Review of Seconds (1966) by Sabrina I — 29 Jun 2011
SECONDS is a paranoid thriller which is brillantly shot and executed. Rock Hudson goes against type and plays a disillusioned man who gets a new life and face in order to finally find some peace and have some control over his life.
He can't communicate with his wife; his relationship with her and others is broken. He needs a purpose in life and thinks this might be the way out. Soon we find our character even more disillusioned and confused.
The people that work for the 'company' that give him the new life feel sinister and cold. They talk in a very matter-of-fact way. His scenes with them are very chilling. We don't find out too much about this 'company' but the film was made in the age of the cold war and height of universal paranoia; by placing one in that time period - I think the viewer can do without that information but also it helps to give the film an even more errie atmosphere and a sense of mystery.
The film is very bleak and disturbing throughout. It gets under your skin. Do we really have no control over lives? I felt myself pondering over questions like that. The first 20 minutes are very thrilling and the ending is a shocker.
The film gets a little slow towards the middle but the last portions really wrap things up nicely. It's mostly shot in extreme close-ups giving the viewer a claustrophobic feel. Expertly shot throughout - we sense the character's paranoia; sadness and terror in every frame.
John Frankenheimer was a talented director and this is one of his best.
This review of Seconds (1966) was written by Sabrina I on 29 Jun 2011.
Seconds has generally received very positive reviews.
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