180 of 1001 Movies: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

If you were someone who had to study film in school, or you have gotten curious about the history of it yourself then you most likely at some point encountered The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari somewhere as it is noted as being one of the most influential films in existence, and even though it is classified as horror it's influence spans as far as film noir to other horror films with it's expressionist style. The costumes even remind you of something that punks in the 70's and 80's were wearing, and the goths were wearing when I was in high school.

Summary: The story begins with Francis narrating the story to another person at an asylum, so he can explain how he has arrived there. In a series of flashbacks we then see how the mysterious, Dr. Caligari and a somnambulist that he keeps in a cabinet and hypnotizes know as Cesare. He keeps Cesare on display at a fair that is travelling through. The somnambulist also is said to tell the future. Francis' life becomes wrapped in the horrors of Dr. Caligari and Cesare as he tries to investigate mysterious murders that are taking place upon his arrival.