Review of The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927) by Jason K — 19 Apr 2008

I killed two birds with one stone by watching this and listening to David Lynch's latest sound project, The Air is on Fire, both for the first time...at the same time.

This is the first in my new project to watch one Hitchcock film per week in chronological order. Lynch's Dockstader-esque sinister drones complemented the film in ways the score that came with it ever could. The difference is this: with the score packaged with my DVD, you realize you're watching a silent film and everything dated about it shows. Replacing that with modern sinister ambient music transforms the film into one of the closest things to a nightmare I've experienced on my television.

The whole nightmare concept makes everything from the silent-era acting style, sensational plot and the shuddering accidental jump-cuts and scratches of the dated print to seem organic and appropriate in representing a dream.

If I'd watched this film with its intended score and as a movie, I'd probably be less enthusiastic. But altering it into the context of a strange dream, I really, really enjoyed the experience and look forward to his other silents; which I'll watch the same way.