Cast: Peter Lorrie, Otto Wernicke

Director: Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Thea von Harbou

Running time: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: German Expressionism/Crime/Drama



CRITIQUE:

This has to be Fritz Lang’s finest cinematic oeuvre. One of film history’s best directors has created such a compelling psychological portrait that it pre-empts the serial killer genre and crime thrillers, highly influencing the likes of Silence of the Lambs. Lang’s first venture into the “talkie” cinema period has never taken more extraordinarily. In fact, there’s less use of music and rather opts for a ominous, echoing silence throughout empty spaces and shadowy corners, making the children’s rhyme chanting and the murderer’s whistle stand out like heebie-jeebies. Since this is also one of German expressionism’s impeccable filmmaking paradigms, it is elevated as a visual art. The stylistic use of shadows, the interplay of light and shade, is unforgettable. See the murderer’s shadow set against the white poster, classic. It doesn’t even sacrifice the complexity of its tale, tackling a very controversial matter even today, the abduction of children. Peter Lorrie’s portrayal of the demented serial killer is ingrained so much on his pulling of an excellent character arc that would require sympathy. After all, he’s a tormented soul, deeply, mentally disturbed. Remarkably, Lang fuses a compelling social message from the film’s heart in this city’s dark underbelly ridden with petty criminals and gangsters, justice is served poignantly.


VERDICT:

Probably one of the most significant films ever made, inspiring genres from serial killer to film noir. M stands for masterpiece and masterclass.



RATING: A+