The world’s first feature-length horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920 Robert Wiene) tells the story of a group of friends who encounter the mysterious doctor and his scary, sleepwalking sidekick Cesare at a carnival. When a series of murders brings the town to its knees, Franzis sets out to prove Caligari is responsible… but is he?

The Invincible Czars perform their nightmarish-ly fun soundtrack along with the film as an immersive live experience, transporting audiences back 100+ years via an age-old tale accompanied by a chilling, tastefully-modern score featuring an impressive blend of traditional acoustic and present-day electric instruments. From delicate passages of longing and love to menacing motifs of dissonant horror and pain, each instrument plays a critical role establishing character themes and creating an aural dreamscape for the film.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari inspired modern day filmmaker Tim Burton and musicians like David Bowie with its strikingly modern visuals. Its craggy edges, disjointed backgrounds and heavy make-up have earned this dark fairy tale a reputation as the quintessential German Expressionist film. Its twist ending is also considered the first in cinematic history (and something Rod Sterling’s The Twilight Zone capitalized upon in the 1960s.)

The live accompaniment experience marries the old-world charm of silent film with a contemporary electricity engaging multi-generational audiences. “We strive to create soundtracks that give modern -day audiences a context to appreciate these 100-year-old movies,” said Josh Robins, Invincible Czars founder and bandleader. The group draws upon influences from more modern film composers including. Bear McCreary, Angelo Badalmenti, David Buckley, Bernard Herrmann and Danny Elfman.

The band also hopes their show will increase awareness about independent cinemas and adventurous movie theaters that are becoming increasingly rare in the post-Covid era.

Fans, theaters, and media have consistently praised The Invincible Czars’ carefully crafted soundtracks for enhancing movie-goers’ experience. The band has performed for over a decade at hundreds of theatres and art houses across the US and Canada delighting audiences with an array of sonic twists and turns. The varied compositions and instrumentation adapt individually to each film the Czars score, capturing each thrilling moment and keeping audiences engaged scene by scene.

The Invincible Czars encourage fans and attendees to dress for the Halloween season - even when it's not Halloween season!