Wait Until Dark (1967)
Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna
Runtime: 108 minutes
Synopsis: A group of con men try to trick a blind woman into giving them a heroin-stuffed doll they believe to be in her possession.
- Performances: 9/10
Why? It's performances like these that make Audrey Hepburn one of the greatest actresses of all time. She was an absolute joy to watch, and made us truly care about a character that went through all sorts of emotions, earning a well deserved Oscar nomination along the way. Alan Arkin is also great as Roat, the man in charge of the operation and whose performance was praised as being one of the "greatest evocation of screen villainy ever" by the master of horror himself, Stephen King.
- Screenplay: 8/10
Why? The story is simple, but its execution masterful. Based on a play by Frederick Knott, "Wait Until Dark" successfully manages to blend riveting dialogue with memorable character interactions. Despite most of it taking place within the walls of a small apartment, it succeeds at keeping the audience on the edge of their seats for its entire runtime. There were a couple of conveniences that took me out of the movie at times, but other than that, it's a classic in the thriller genre that needs to be talked about a lot more.
- Costumes/Makeup: 6/10
Why? Nothing really special in that area, apart from the fact that Hepburn herself picked out her clothes from shops in Paris.
- Editing: 8/10
Why? The movie takes a while to really settle in, but once it starts, it never stops to take a breath.
- Cinematography: 8/10
Why? The camera does a great job of capturing and enhancing the claustrophobic nature of the film. It played an undeniable role in making the movie as unsettling as it is.
- Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Why? Creepy when it needs to be, and tense when played against a thrilling scene. It's also not overplayed, and Young knew exactly when to incorporate it and when not to.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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