For the most part, this suspense thriller from Hitchcock the master of the genre, seems a fairly run-of-the-mill affair. However, thanks to the usual directorial touches and a fascinating final act, along with some top notch performances most notably from James Stewart, it manages to lift itself above first impressions.
The story concerns Stewart's retired police officer being hired by old college friend to tail his wife (the quite wonderful Kim Novak), whom he claims has been possessed by her grandmother. As he becomes involved in this mystifying scenario, Stewart finds himself falling in love with his quarry and elects to try and help solve her paranormal problems. The film really comes into it's own in the last half hour or so, which is hard to describe without revealing too much, but gives a fascinating portrayal of a desperate man and the hurt that can come of a doomed relationship.
I wasn't too happy with the ending (surely nun's aren't that scary?) but all in all this has a dark pyschological edge which could have been explored further and makes for an interesting watch. Plus now I know the film playing in the cinema in Twelve Monkeys. |
