THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE

At the beginning of the twentieth century, an American provincial town is terrorized by a maniacal killer who always targets women with some physical disability. A girl, who became mute after a shock, who assists an elderly lady, is the next victim chosen by the mad assassin. She will get away by a hair's breadth and the fright will make her regain her speech. Along with "M, the Monster of Düsseldorf" by Fritz Lang, it represents a classic of the thriller genre and a sort of forerunner of modern "serial killer" films. Do not expect scenes of blood or atrocious murders (we are indeed never shown either the perpetration of the murder or the victims of the crime itself), but the film still manages to convey suspense and a deep sense of anguish, thanks also to the perfect use of light tones. The very architecture of the house where the story takes place, divided into different floors accessible only by contorted staircases, and some brilliant "directorial touches" (including the very close-up of the killer's eye that reflects the figure of the victim) make this small black-and-white masterpiece even more enjoyable. A rediscovery.