Review of Knife in the Water (1962) by Justin A — 14 Jul 2009

With three characters and a claustrophobic setting, this film was exciting and compelling. Your eyes are glued to the screen for many reasons, including the very gorgeous black and white photography. Polanski directs it with a quiet tension, and it's not your traditional thriller. "Knife in the Water" digs deeper under your skin. But where a traditional thriller gets you will a heavy plot, clear protagonists/antagonists and music, Polanski holds your nerves in his had with the idea of anything can happen between these regular people when they're out on a lake, on a boat, with no one else around. The jazz score juxtaposed with the off-balanced quality of the film often adds an uncomfortable eerie feeling for the viewers.

One of Polanski's best films. I was simply stunned while watching it.