Review of Peeping Tom (1960) by Colin K — 21 May 2008

This 1960 gem effectively ruined the career of writer/director Michael Powell, a tragic result of the British response to the flick upon release.

Fortunately, in recent years, prints of this one have been circulated widely to almost universal acclaim. I looked for a copy of this one for years, and finally found it quite recently.

I've never really seen a movie quite like "Peeping Tom"-- it reminded me quite a bit of Hitchcock's "Vertigo" thematically. I can effectively say that this picture shoots for an unparalleled sense of intense ambiance, and it often succeeds. If you by chance remember the opening PoV tracking shot from Carpenter's "Halloween", it's immediately obvious that John "borrowed" that technique from this movie. Fantastic production values (particularly cinematography!) and memorable performances launch "Peeping Tom" to the top of its genre.

In short, we really don't see films of this nature anymore. You can read the description to the left and tell if this sounds appealing to you or not. If it does, I can't offer a high enough recommendation for Mitchell's film. If it doesn't, stay away.

The greatest tragedy of this film is the fact that it sent Powell (who considered "Peeping Tom" his masterwork) into a spiraling bout of depression, and he never aspired to reach the same heights again. In effect, Powell sacrificed his career for this.

Despite the fact that his potential career stands as a tremendous "what if", Powell's swan-song was (and is) worth such risks.

As disturbing, provocative, mesmerizing and memorable as it likely was upon release, "Peeping Tom" deservedly maintains a contemporary seat at the table among the best films ever produced in the horror/thriller genre.