German expressionism at its finest as a child-killer (Peter Lorre in his pre-Hollywood days) haunts the streets of Berlin. Increased police presence results in a reduction in criminal activity – and the beggars, pickpockets and organised crime lords are not happy. The answer is to hunt down the killer themselves.
Stunning high contrast black and white cinematography (Fritz Arno Wagner – Nosferatu, The Testament of Dr Mabuse), innovative use of sound and silences are combined by director Fritz Lang (Metropolis, The Big Heat) in his first non-silent film to create an atmospherically visceral experience, aided by the extraordinary range of facial and physical exaggerations of Lorre himself.
Rating: 86%
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