Review of The Wages of Fear (1953) by Sean H — 28 Mar 2010

If you're reading this, then you're probably at least remotely interested in old movies with subtitles. That being said, order this one from Netflix, pop up a big bowl of popcorn on a weeknight, and immerse yourself for two-and-a-half hours in this smart, white-knuckle drama.

At first glance it's the story of four men hired to drive two truckloads of nitroglycerin 300 miles across a myriad of pitfalls, but a second viewing (and, I admit, reading the supplemental material provided by the Criterion Collection) yields an anti-American and anti-capitalism message beneath the crust.

Also see my review of "Diabolique" from the same director.