Director: Michael Powell
Writer: Leo Marks (Screenplay)
Starring: Karlheinz Bohm, Moira Shearer, Anna Massey, Maxine Audley, Brenda Bruce, Miles Malleson, Esmond Knight
Plot: A young man murders women, using a movie camera to film their dying expressions of terror.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Cult Classic
Story: Peeping Tom starts as we follow our estranged cameraman Mark Lewis (Bohm) as he shows his work to his beautiful neighbor Helen Stephens (Massey) as we learn how he became the social awkward man we are following.
We see how Mark has been working on a film where he gets an interest in stand in Vivian (Shearer) where he gets to practice his killing style as we see how Mark follows his victims before killing them on film.
Peeping Tom is considered one of the classics in the horror genre because of the new dimension it bought to the genre. I will say it is slow moving which doesn’t help us really engage with his killing style as I do think we did need a large body count for what Mark was trying to achieve. Everything plays out like a misunderstood monster while now it would be studied a lot more before villainous the first victim which is Mark himself.
Actor Review
Karlheinz Bohm: Mark Lewis is a small time cameraman who dreams of directing his own film but his dreams become others nightmares as he starts stalking his victims before killing off becoming the serial killer around town. Karlheinz is good in this role as we see the full social awkward character coming through.
Moira Shearer: Vivian is a stand in on the film Mark is working on she gets interested in Mark but she does become the most famous of the victims so far in his killing spree. Moira is good in this role without really being a major part.
Anna Massey: Helen Stephens is the beautiful neighbor of Mark’s who become fascinated with Mark’s work as the two start with their own relationship. Anna is good as the innocent girl next door.
Support Cast: Peeping Tom has a good supporting cast with each member coming of wondering what Mark’s real motives are being it Helen’s mother or the detectives searching for the killer.
Director Review: Michael Powell – Michael does give us an original idea for a horror which for the time would have struck fear in everyone.
Horror: Peeping Tom would have been good for time but it doesn’t really work to the same levels now.
Thriller: Peeping Tom tries to keep us guessing but sadly it just doesn’t get us involved enough.
Settings: Peeping Tom does have good use of settings trying to make us wonder how gritty the world are going to be.
Special Effects: Peeping Tom uses the effects well for the time to show the kills.
Suggestion: Peeping Tom is one for the horror fans to go back and try. (Horror Fans Try)
Best Part: Style works.
Worst Part: It has dated.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: £135,000
Runtime: 1 Hour 41 Minutes
Tagline: WARNING! Don’t see Peeping Tom unless you are prepared to see the screaming shock and raw terror in the faces of those marked for death!
Overall: Dated horror that has lost the real shock value it once had.
Rating
