Review of I Wake Up Screaming (1941) by Paul Z — 18 Nov 2012

Often considered the first of the classic film noir canon, it is indeed a very nifty, very clever mystery that plays with our expectations in its use of light-hearted tone contrasted deftly with the sharp angles, smoke-filled beams from low-placed lamps and bold fedora-wearing shadows on the walls.

The casting is a delicate balance that works, and so is the plot. Its ultimate surprises are easily foreseen because of the sheer amount of formula films in its wake, and yet those revelations still turn out to be more complex than we expect.