The Phantom Carriage
A haunting morality play where ghostly double-exposures bridge the gap between the living and the dead, following a cruel drunkard's spectral journey toward redemptive maturity on a chilling New Year's Eve.
The Phantom Carriage
The Phantom Carriage

Körkarlen

"Do the Dead Come Back? Can Your Soul Leave Your Body...And Return Again?"

01 January 1921 Sweden 106 min ⭐ 7.8 (344)
Director: Victor Sjöström
Cast: Victor Sjöström, Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg, Astrid Holm, Concordia Selander
Drama Fantasy Horror
Redemption and Atonement Alcoholism and Social Decay Sacrifice and Selflessness Inevitability of Death

The Phantom Carriage - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

David Holm

Victor Sjöström

Archetype: Antihero
Key Trait: Callousness

Motivation

Initially driven by spite and a desire to punish the world for his own failures; eventually motivated by the desire to save his family from his own legacy.

Character Arc

Develops from a cynical, abusive drunkard who actively tries to infect others with his misery into a man capable of genuine remorse and prayer for mercy.

Sister Edit

Astrid Holm

Archetype: The Martyr
Key Trait: Altruism

Motivation

To save David's soul and ensure that her prayers for him were not in vain, believing that no one is beyond help.

Character Arc

Remains steadfast in her faith and love for David, even as she dies from the very disease he brought into her life.

Georges

Tore Svennberg

Archetype: The Herald
Key Trait: Regret

Motivation

To fulfill his duty as the driver and perhaps find peace by witnessing the redemption of the man he once corrupted.

Character Arc

A former friend who led David into alcoholism, now serving as the grim servant of Death who must educate David on the consequences of his sins.

Anna Holm

Hilda Borgström

Archetype: The Victim
Key Trait: Resilience

Motivation

To protect her children from the physical and moral influence of her husband.

Character Arc

Transitions from a hopeful wife to a woman driven to the brink of despair and murder-suicide by her husband's abuse.

Cast

Victor Sjöström as David Holm
Hilda Borgström as Mrs. Holm
Tore Svennberg as Georges
Astrid Holm as Sister Edit
Concordia Selander as Edit's Mother
Lisa Lundholm as Sister Maria
Tor Weijden as Gustafsson
Einar Axelsson as David's Brother
Olof Ås as Driver
Nils Aréhn as Prison Chaplain
Simon Lindstrand as David's Companion
Nils Elffors as David's Companion
Algot Gunnarsson as Worker
Hildur Lithman as Worker's Wife
John Ekman as Police Constable