A Classic Thriller of the 40's . Lots of Atmosphere and scary moments . Watch it after midnight alone.

I always wondered how horror/thriller movies were executed pre Hitchcock because in my mind, there have been only a handful of movies that dared to scare the shit out of people from the "golden" age of movie making, but I just assumed they were the b... (read more) I always wondered how horror/thriller movies were executed pre Hitchcock because in my mind, there have been only a handful of movies that dared to scare the shit out of people from the "golden" age of movie making, but I just assumed they were the by products of Hitchcock. My ignorance was destroyed when I watched the Spiral Staircase. A film that is intelligent and displays characters that we can care about. The most important performance and character of this film belonged to Dorothy McGuire, who played a mute woman with a damaged past. With her character's inability to speak, the expression and fear of the character were heavily dependent on McGuire's ability to speak through physcial contortions, and she knocked it out of the park. And since the main character is mute, it leads to some chilling silent sequences that will make the viewer clench their fists in fear. Along with this physical performance, comes solid work by director Robert Siodmak. Now, I've never heard of him until now, but he and the cinematographer made bold choices in their shot selections. The most notable shot choice is the voyeuristic approach they took in showing the "killer" stalking its victims just before he attacked them. This approach was all the more unsettling and disturbing as it put us in the killer's shoes and hinted at death, as we saw the victims in their final, innocent moments. Something like this is quite revolutionary for a film from the 40's. Accompanying this technique, Siodmak did a hell of a job just making everyday things like the weather and a staircase shrouded in shadows, become twisted and creepy. Once again, Siodmak created an unnerving atmosphere in a place where most feel safe, and because of this, the audience feels uneasy and their innoncence and safety is stripped away along with our characters. Sure there are some twists and surprises in The Spiral Staircase, but its not focused on the "reveal" at the end. Instead, its more concerned on making us worry if we're or our characters are going to make it to the end. Instead its focused on making us fear that dark staircase, that weird gust of wind finding itself into the house, and the inability to see darkness descend. The Spiral Staircase is a film ahead of its time and I will say its the best Hitchcock movie that wasn't made by Hitchcock.

I love how I can turn on TCM at 7 most nights and see a fantastic movie I've never heard of. Good, spooky, dark-and-silence-laden serial killer movie.

I have to say this was the perfect film for me because of Dorothy McGuire's innocence . She was so believable. She was so adorable. She was perfect. As a mute in the story made her even more beautiful in a way I can't explain, but the film was entert... (read more) I have to say this was the perfect film for me because of Dorothy McGuire's innocence . She was so believable. She was so adorable. She was perfect. As a mute in the story made her even more beautiful in a way I can't explain, but the film was entertaining. It's a classic all right.

Un excellent thriller psychologique sur un serial killer au debut du XIXe. La photo en noir et blanc est superbe et le suspense est enorme. Malgre ses quelques 60 ans, ce film est toujours radicalement efficace.

horror films of today owe a lot to this. this film starts strong and reaaaaally scared me. minus the lull toward the end, i was all about it. gah it made me nervous. the story behind the crimes was pretty solid too.

It wasn't really what I was expecting, but I still thought that this film was very good. My only complaints, is that I thought it could've benefitted from being a bit longer and I really would've liked them to utilize the cat-and-mouse aspect that w... (read more) It wasn't really what I was expecting, but I still thought that this film was very good. My only complaints, is that I thought it could've benefitted from being a bit longer and I really would've liked them to utilize the cat-and-mouse aspect that would've worked so well in a film like this. Other than that, I loved the setting, the characters, and the perpetual darkness of the film, and wasn't at all disappointed.

While lacking in surprises, notably the killer, it has a great look to it (Dark and shadowy, great camera angeles) and builds suspense with the best. Dorothy McGuire is a revelation.

Surprisingly creepy! Loved the use of "noir" genre lighting, and the occasional humor. I'd forgotten that the humor + horror combo ever happened before movies like Scream. Makes you rethink thunder storms AND "things that go bump in the night."

Robert Siodmak influenced a lot of filmmakers, from Tarkovsky to Melville. Even if he didn't invent film noir by himself, he definitely took it further. This production is one of his older efforts and is more gothic and whodunit-esque than film noir ... (read more) Robert Siodmak influenced a lot of filmmakers, from Tarkovsky to Melville. Even if he didn't invent film noir by himself, he definitely took it further. This production is one of his older efforts and is more gothic and whodunit-esque than film noir (spooky home, dark interiors, stock characters, nailbiting finish), but you can still his genius that was to be fully represented in 'The Killers' (of the same year).