A replication of the charming trick films of the great Georges Méliès, 'A Trip to Mars' is fascinating for many reasons that may or may not have actually been intentional. The acting itself is broadly comical, and the over the top performances help heighten this strange and almost surreal vibe the entire short has. The entire premise is absurd, largely because of what science has, by this time, taught us, and is in itself laughable, but also inexplicably helps heighten the film's confusing, bizarre, and flat out weird atmosphere. The film's most iconic visual by far is that of the giant alien lord(?), king(?), ruler(?), or something(?), the film never at all specifies much of what is going on (another element that helps heighten the atmosphere, albeit very possibly unintentionally), which looks like some sort of disturbing vision of Satan. It's all extremely odd, and ends in a wild, almost experimental note when the camera flips over and around and spins, creating an effect that replicates something by the likes of a Stan Brakhage(!).