Peeping Tom (1960)

Director: Michael Powell
Stars: Karlheinz Bohm, Anna Massey, Moira Shearer
Runtime: 101 minutes

Synopsis: A serial killer, whose weapon of choice is a camera's tripod, films the face of his victims as he's killing them to capture their genuine expressions of terror.

• Performances: 9/10

Why? As with most movies that came out during that era, the acting didn't age as well as some other elements of the film. However, I can't say that it bothered me as it gave the picture authenticity and truly reminded at all times that I was watching something made almost 60 years ago. And even though it's mainly the delivery that feels at times dated, the same cannot be said about the mannerisms and facial expressions of the actors. Karlheinz Bohm gave a performance that should, in my opinion, be remembered as an all-time great, perfectly blending both creepiness and psychopathy, yet somehow managing to highlight a tortured and painful past that will make the audience sympathize with him.      

• Screenplay: 10/10

Why? The first slasher film ever made is also one of the best one for a simple reason: It turned its focus on the killer rather than the kills. Yes, technically speaking, "Peeping Tom" is a horror film that was as, if not more, influential as "Psycho" or "The Shining", but it's before anything else a character study. And a fascinating and layered one I might add. The main character of Mark is one that I'll always remember as one I absolutely loved to hate. Every bit of dialogue and every decision he made helped build his character in a way. I also love the fact that he's a cameraman working in a studio as it not only provided a setting that movie lovers will absolutely adore watching, but it also served as a memorable metaphor as to the infinite power filmmaking can have. 

• Costumes/Makeup: 6/10

Why? The costume design was great and blended well with the tone of the movie. The makeup, on the other hand, didn't look as convincing as I wanted it to be. But that didn't really bother me as it was only used in a couple scenes at most.

• Editing: 6/10

Why? "Peeping Tom" is considered to be a masterpiece today. However, back when it first came out, it was met with roaring criticism from critics and audiences alike, who bashed the movie for the way it was presented (more on that later on), its subject matter, and its unprecedented violence. This not only lead to the end of Michael Powell's career (truly a master of the craft), but also to serious censorship of the final version. A lot of scenes considered too graphic were cut out, some conversations removed, entire scenes left on the editing room's floor... And, unfortunately, even though a lot of these scenes were recovered later on and added back, a lot of them are now considered lost forever. The removal of these scenes doesn't affect the story's flow or pacing, nor does it affect the narrative as a whole, but they sadly don't go unnoticed either as conversations are abruptly cut in the middle of an exchange for instance. A shame.

• Cinematography: 10/10

Why? Powell's masterpiece is not only one of the first slasher films ever made, but it's also one of the first movies that are shot from the killer's perspective. Choosing to present the picture that way was a big gamble at the time as it was considered to antagonize the audience by unifying them with the killer, when in fact it helped better understand the main character. That gamble only paid off when people came to appreciate the genius of it many years later and is now a technique used in many iconic horror films (think "Halloween"). Other than that, I also loved how Powell uses color and lighting to build tension. Even if the audience doesn't notice it, it most certainly affects them when the atmosphere slowly starts to become darker and colorless. 

• Score/Soundtrack: 8/10

Why? Brian Easdale, the film's composer, also scored "The Red Shoes", another Powell film (co-directed with his second half, Emeric Pressburger) for which he won an Oscar and universal acclaim. The score he wrote for "Peeping Tom" may not be as memorable, but it still fits the atmosphere pretty well and does an excellent job toying with the audience's emotions.

FINAL GRADE: 9/10