A totally different Hitchcock film that might be his finest work.

20 minutes into this movie I was a bit perplexed. It was released during the so-called Hitchcock golden age of the 50’s, but the pacing is so slow and deliberate that I couldn’t figure out what he was doing. As the movie progressed it finally dawned on me, he’s doing this purposely to make the viewer part of Manny’s nightmare. This story could have been told in 30 minutes, but Hitchcock’s direction made it almost painful to watch. So many long, slow shots where Henry Fonda has a blank eyed stare to communicate Manny’s disbelief about what’s happening to him. Manny letting down his sons, his wife’s descent into madness, his alibi and defense falling apart. It almost feels like a documentary, and in a way it is as Hitchcock used many people and places from the real events. This is what made it so much more gripping and suspenseful than even Psycho or Vertigo or Rear Window. Unreal. I’m only about halfway through the Hitchcock catalog and I look forward to stumbling across the next gem.

10/10