Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Barry N — 30 Jun 2011

One of the scariest nightmares I have is finding out that someone close to me, be it a family member or friend, is a serial killer. That's a scary thought, and Alfred Hitchcock captures the pure fright of such a situation in Shadow of a Doubt, one of Hitchcock's best films.

In this story, Charlie a young woman is ecstatic about her Uncle Charlie coming to visit her and her family, but as the story progresses, she slowly begins to realize that Uncle Charlie may not be who he says he is. This story isn't anything original, even for Hitchcock, but what makes this story special is the way the story unfolds. The film is told from Charlie's point of view, and we go through what she's going through. Before we find out about Uncle Charlie's past, we get to know him just like the other family members do, so that we understand how impossible it sounds to them that he could be a killer.

The build-up for this film is some of the greatest I have ever seen in film. The film makes scenes that seem normal and yet make you sit on the edge of your seat. Alfred Hitchcock has always been a fantastic director, and this is some of his best work. He creates suspense with nearly every single shot, even if the scene on screen is charming. This creates an atmosphere in which anything can happen and gives the movie an unpredictable aspect about it.

The performance for Uncle Charlie is also very good. Joseph Cotton gives one of the most realistic performances ever. He does good as the man we know is hiding something, and yet at the same time gives a façade so flawlessly that nobody suspects who he really is.

This film is almost flawless from start to finish. The beginning picks up your undivided attention, and the ending comes to a satisfying emotional turmoil and takes your breath away. The pacing is done really well, the acting is great from everybody, and there some real romantic chemistry between the two leads.

Alfred Hitchcock often cited this film as his favorite film of his own, and who could blame him? Even though I've only seen a few, out of those, this is my 2nd favorite film that he has made, behind only Rear Window. A masterpiece in its own right, Shadow of a Doubt isn't given enough recognition, especially considering how well-crafted it is. Bravo.

9.9/10.