Review of The Wages of Fear (1953) by Dustin G — 03 Jun 2011

I gotta say, while well filmed and a good story, the repeated claims of this being one of the most tension filled, suspenseful movies ever made is more than a slight exaggeration. It's certainly a film with the opportunity for tension and excitement, but in the end it didn't really deliver on that front for me.

Like some of Henri-Georges Clouzot's other films, this is uncompromising and tough however, refusing to let the viewer off easy or to ruin a good, dark story with a lot of gooey nonsense. And the end of the movie is fantastic for this reason.

I think what probably hurts this movie the most is the ravages of age. In 1953 when the film was made I have no doubt it was intense and exciting experience. But here in 2011, we viewers have been spoiled and pampered.

And desensitized to such a point of numbing that to watch a film like Wages of Fear for the first time today is a different experience all together.