Assassin of Youth: “educational” soap opera that titillates with flashes of sordid behaviour
Elmer Clifton, “Assassin of Youth” (1937) It’s a laughable anti-marijuana screed but “Assassin of Youth”
French and French-language Films
Rififi: godfather of heist movies with a morality tale of redemption
Jules Dassin, “Rififi” (1955) A film about a technically perfect crime, only for its participants
Downhill: Hitchcock comedy is early showcase of technical innovation and flair
Alfred Hitchcock, “Downhill” (1927) Before he found his niche as Master of Suspense, the young
The true Hitchcock universe begins with “The Lodger: a Story of the London Fog”
Alfred Hitchcock, “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” (1927) Only the third film
Profound themes of evolution, maturity, cycles of life and death, and Japan’s modern history in Katsuhiro Otomo’s “Akira”
Katsuhiro Otomo, “Akira” (1988) In an alternative but parallel universe in 1988, a scientific experiment
French and French-language Films
Eyes without a Face: mad-scientist horror genre gets serious treatment with issues of control and identity
Georges Franju, “Eyes without a Face” / “Les yeux sans visage” (1959) Lean and elegant in
Little Shop of Horrors: dark horror and farce in trashy 1960 cheapie
Roger Corman, “Little Shop of Horrors” (1960) Here’s a cute comedy horror piece made on
Australian and New Zealand Films
Recipe for Murder: an entertaining look at thallium poisoning craze in society traumatised by post-war social changes
Sonia Bible, “Recipe for Murder” (2010) Contrary to what most people think about the 1950’s,
Australian and New Zealand Films
Heavenly Creatures: a rich and dark dramatisation of a real-life matricide
Peter Jackson, “Heavenly Creatures” (1994) Having made his reputation as purveyor of gory splatter horror
French and French-language Films
Les Diaboliques aka The Devils: psychological horror film thin on plot but thick with suspense and twisted endings
Henri-Georges Clouzot, “Les Diaboliques” aka “The Devils” (1955) At first “Les Diaboliques” doesn’t seem anything