Review of Peeping Tom (1960) by Aaron N — 06 Nov 2007

Mark Lewis: Do you know what the most frightening thing in the world is? It's fear.

A unique horror experience for its time. It was released a few months prior to Psycho, but is easily comparable.

The story involves a young man who is obsessed with using his camera to capture the reactions of people, particularly when he is murdering them...dun dun duhhhnnn.

But really, this has an interesting idea, because it allows us, the audience, to be voyeurs of a man who is a voyeur, creating even more of an unsettling atmosphere.

The score of this film is quite good as well. It works by combining some of the dry British humor with the building suspense created by simple thrills, like turning on the lights and certain reveals.

All the actors do a good enough job with the story with one exception, the lead. Karlheinz Bohm as Mark Lewis is almost too socially awkward for this movie at points, where it has negative effects. However, at one point he is suddenly so full of life that it seems somewhat inconsistent. Anthony Perkins had a similar role, with a comparable personality as Norman Bates, but he handled his character much better.

Still, this is an interesting film, that amuses me to know that it was very controversial at the time of its release.

Vivian: What would frighten me to death? Set the mood for me, Mark.

Mark Lewis: Imagine... someone coming towards you... who wants to kill you... regardless of the consequences.

Vivian: A madman?

Mark Lewis: Yes. But he knows it - and you don't.