The Spiral Staircase (1946)

Nominated for 1 Academy Award:

Best Supporting Actress: Ethel Barrymore

 

Spiral Staircase is a film about a mute woman feeling targeted by a serial killer. Most of the film takes place in one evening, in one house, and it’s more intense than I expected it to be. You can find most of the clichés in the story, especially towards the ending; it manages to build a universe that is predictable, but also complete, with a purpose and very homely.

So, to its credit, it didn’t fail to maintain my interest, the level of tension was always high. The lead, Dorothy McGuire is just ok. Ethel Barrymore has a key role, and does with the character more than what’s on the page, yet even so you can feel it’s underdeveloped. An uneven film, that grabs you.

 

I give it: 7.5/10

IMDB LINK