Hitchcock delivers a wonderful film about a young woman who suspects her Uncle Charlie of being a serial killer.
Set in the beautiful, picket-fenced suburbia of the U.S., a family is thrilled with the announcement that their estranged Uncle Charlie will be coming to visit. His presence immediately lights up the lives of his family, in particular his namesake niece, Charlie. However, small discrepancies soon emerge in Uncle Charlie’s story that make him seem to be living a lie. While the family go on in blissful unawareness, girl Charlie starts to investigate her Uncle. With detectives hot on the trail of Uncle Charlie also, his options become limited, and now he must plot to kill his niece before she uncovers his secret.
It is an impressive film for its time, emerging before the end of WW2. The story, based on a short story, is hugely captivating, and the tense stand-offs between the two Charlies are thoroughly entertaining. It lacks much of Hitchcock’s later prowess as a director, but still has a more familiar and heart warming approach.
The performances are worthy, although seem very dated (which is understandable). Shot in black and white, the film has a nostalgic quality, which, coupled with the films interesting plot, make it a film that will live on in the history banks.
Not the best Hitchcock, but an old film worth watching for the theatrical-style plot, and the early tension building mastery.
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