The Upturned Glass (1947) / El guardián invisible (2017) / The Satan Bug (1965) / Bedelia (1946) / Bird Box (2017) / The Passionate Friends (1949) / The Lady Vanishes (1938)
The Upturned Glass (1947) Bleak and cold-hearted tale of revenge
and descent into madness, confidently if unimaginably made, which
doesn't build tension until the end. James Mason's grim conviction peels
away brutal layers with effective cruelty.
El guardián invisible (2017) Sleek visuals, evocative locations
and a pregnant atmosphere seek to elevate the story beyond its
procedural backbone. The infusion of mythical beliefs doesn't really
provide additional depth, but Fernando Velázquez's score is as potent as
ever.
The Satan Bug (1965) Gleaming widescreen production values partly
compensate for glacial and convoluted storytelling, with occasional
visuals mirroring the dread of a manmade, killer virus. Jerry Goldsmith
provides a snarling, propulsive score.
Bedelia (1946) Margaret Lockwood discovers rich material at the
centre of this melodramatic thriller, an emotionally wrecked human
falling apart with murderous results. Yet the film never finds the
visual style to mirror the emotions and the tale is unfortunately flat.
Bird Box (2017) Sandra Bullock is the dynamic, compulsive heart
at the centre of a post-apocalyptical horror which hides its alien
predator yet doesn't deliver on the character emotions the space
provides. Individual set pieces provide suspense, though the ending
never delivers.
The Passionate Friends (1949) Beautifully crafted tale of love,
longing and conformity, narrative design mirrors the fragmentary concern
with memories and dreams. Cast and characters are aligned with a
technical precision that draws the viewer in and subverts original
thoughts.
The Lady Vanishes (1938) Beautifully realized
comedy/thriller, brimming with detail that rewards repeat viewings and
shot through with Hitchcock's devilish wit. Script and cast bring
humanity to the narrative and enclosed train setting ramps up tension
and fun. Genuine classic.
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