Wait Until Dark

A bit too contrived, perhaps, but still a thriller fully focused on generating tension. An impressive play on nerves set in one room, or one flat. From a certain angle, Wait Until Dark can be reminiscent of Hitchcock's Rear Window (also five stars), but at closer inspection, it’s clear that each film works with the viewer in a totally opposite way and therefore, they can not be put into the same pigeon-hole. Wait Until Dark actually fits better in the pure thriller one. (24/08/2009)

See No Evil. A quiet little thriller in Hitchcock style, set in a small apartment. They want something that she doesn’t know she’s got. And she just happens to be blind and has an unhealed trauma from a recent event. Excellent dialogs, a well thought out plan and a suspenseful ending. Fundamentally, this looks like a relatively regular genre picture, although admittedly of higher quality than normal. So what makes this thriller exceptional (apart from the fact that it is inspiration for Fincher’s Panic Room)? Audrey Hepburn, Richard Crenna, and Audrey Hepburn again, the scene with the cotton scarf and Richard Crenna’s moments of confrontation with who else but Audrey Hepburn. And not even Adam Arkin is here just for his pretty face. (30/01/2008)

An expertly shot thriller in the style of Hitchcock, starring the famous Audrey Hepburn in the lead role. Blind Susie is one of her most famous characters and one that the actress was very proud of. A classic film from the 60s with a dark atmosphere. Overall impression: 90%. (30/04/2009)

After tonight's rewatch, I've changed my rating to five stars (with reservations). I realized that this film, along with Barefoot in the Park (1967), belongs to my favorite play adaptations. Since the film is an adaptation of a stage play, the cast obviously plays a crucial role, and I have zero complaints in this regard. Even though the whole thing was mainly about Audrey Hepburn's fantastic performance, Richard Crenna was also excellent, and Alan Arkin was perfect in the role of the slimy villain. It wasn't just about the actors, though. The film has been around for quite a while, yet contemporary filmmakers could learn a lot from it about how to build a perfect, relaxed atmosphere and how to create tension. / Lesson learned: In the dark, the blind man is king. 5*- (21/08/2022)

Wait Until Dark is an incredibly suspenseful film with a brilliantly crafted atmosphere. Alongside the beautiful and wonderfully portrayed Audrey, Alan Arkin also delivers an outstanding performance, particularly in his incredibly demonic portrayal. There are a few scenes that almost seem to be from The Pink Panther, but in his rendition, they are very disturbing. Another example that a good horror movie doesn't need monsters. (28/06/2017)