Directed by Fritz Lang, this is the film that the esteemed director called his finest & it's not really difficult to see why. The screenplay & direction brims with creativity, the suspense is wonderfully created & utilized, black-n-white photography is crisp & inventive, editing never lets the story settle down, score & sound effects work in seamless harmony, and Peter Lorre steals the show with a highly compelling performance. ( )

Un ignoto assassino violenta e uccide numerose bambine senza lasciare alcuna traccia. Nella città viene allora organizzata una fitta rete di ricerche a cui partecipano anche mendicanti e criminali. Quando l'uomo, ben presto definito 'il mostro di Düsseldorf', viene individuato, un venditore di palloncini riesce con un gesso a segnargli sulle spalle una grande M. (fonte: Wikipedia)

Quando la polizia di una città tedesca non è in grado di catturare un bambino-assassino, altri criminali si uniscono alla caccia all'uomo.

A child-murderer is hunted by gangsters and the police.

It's got some problems. The first half is very dated (although in the second half it turns into one of the best serial killer movies ever made), and the final scene (where someone talks directly to the audience) really bugs me.

Concept: A
Story: A
Characters: C
Dialog: B
Pacing: B
Cinematography: A
Special effects/design: B
Acting: A
Music: A

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 3.4/4 ( )