Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Greg T — 09 Jun 2012
A splendidly dark movie, pitting small-town American goodness and family against evil, predatory horror. Uncle Charlie comes to visit his loving family from New York City, but Uncle Charlie may be a serial killer.
He's certainly acting suspiciously, ripping up newspapers and snatching film containing photographs of him, but surely he wouldn't threaten his adoring niece, even if he were a killer? SHADOW OF A DOUBT ratchets up the tension with skill, and it's never entirely clear where Hitchcock's sympathies lie - with the urbane, possibly psychotic charmer or with the faintly simpering "average" family, which adds a pleasing level of ambiguity to what, essentially, is rather a silly tale.
With some great lines and memorably tense moments, it's a fantastic thriller and Joseph Cotton deliciously creepy.
This review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) was written by Greg T on 09 Jun 2012.
Shadow of a Doubt has generally received very positive reviews.
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