Review of 10 Rillington Place (1971) by Luke B — 06 May 2011

Immediately one of the greatest films I have ever seen. I feel so privileged that I was able to see this film on the big screen. It starts with the wonderful Richard Attenborough being a sick little puppy.

Set during the war, in a policeman's unifrom, offering medical help to a young woman. Attenborough is everything that someone should trust. A calm English man that offers you tea. Next, he's murdering the woman with gas, and not a hint of remorse.

The film jumps forward 5 years, and introduces a tragic couple. They are about to have a baby, but cannot afford one. This sparks Attenborough's killing side, and he offers to perform an abortion.

The film becomes a tense and depressing thriller that outlines the problems with capital punishment. It's sad as it's a battle of wits, but one of the protagonists has no wits to battle with. Attenborough is one of the most chilling and disturbing villains I've ever seen.

The claustrophobic setting, the invasion of someones life, and the heartless deception, are just some of the great things about this movie. As it finished on a freeze frame we hear heavy breathing, next the credits scroll silently.

Everyone in the cinema stood up in silence as though they had just been punched and winded. This film had more dread and a bigger impact than any I can recall.