What is the magic of The Phantom Carriage?

You would probably agree it’s an AAA-rated film.

But what exactly makes it look so magical? I can’t get hold of that. There is nothing special (apart from the double exposure trick). Each frame is so perfectly simple.

So what is the secret?

Early Edvard Munch must have been an inspiration at least partially.

It’s not just the scenes, the poses, it’s also how figures merge with darkness…

Compare this to the above:

I wonder if these sharp contrasts between light and darkness are the result of bad quality of the print (partially, they are) or Sjostrom meant it to be a little bit over-exposed?