The Haunted Castle (1896 film)

Le Manoir du diable, released in the United States as The Haunted Castle and in Britain as The Devils Castle, is an 1896 French short silent film directed by Georges Mlis. The film, a brief pantomimed sketch in the style of a theatrical comic fantasy, tells the story of an encounter with the Devil and various attendant phantoms. It is intended to evoke amusement and wonder from its audiences, rather than fear. However, because of its themes and characters, it can technically be considered the first horror film and, because it includes a transformation involving a bat, it has even been called the first vampire film. The film is also innovative in length its running time of over three minutes was ambitious for its era.

The room is cleared shortly before two cavaliers enter. The devils assistant pokes their backs before instantaneously transporting to different areas of the room, confusing the pair and causing one to flee. The second stays and has several other tricks played on him, such as furniture being moved around and the sudden appearance of a skeleton. The cavalier is unfazed, using a sword to attack the skeleton, which then turns into a bat, then into Mephistopheles, who conjures four spectres to subdue the man. Recovering from the womens attack, the man is visibly dazed and is brought the woman from the cauldron, who impresses him with her beauty. Mephistopheles then turns her into a withered old crone in front of the mans eyes, then again into the four spectres.The second cavalier returns and after a brief show of bravery, flees again, this time by leaping over the balconys edge. After the spectres disappear, the cavalier is confronted facetoface by the Devil before reaching for and brandishing a large crucifix, which causes the devil to vanish. ........

Source: Wikipedia