Rent This: M (1931)

I had the pleasure of revisiting Fritz Lang's M (1931) for the first time in quite a few years. I first saw it when I was in high school, and it kicked off both a fascination for moody German expressionist films (such as Metropolis (1927), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), and Nosferatu (1922)) and a great appreciation for actor Peter Lorre. Here Lorre plays a child murderer, who stalks his victims and lures them away with sweets and balloons, all while whistling "In The Hall Of The Mountain King," a strange and memorable little melody. He plays the part as an unsettling man-child of sorts, his big eyes simultaneously drawing sympathy from the audience and utterly repulsing us. Lorre is pitch-perfect here, and the film is ideal for his abilities to intrigue and horrify. The movie is full of shadows, of paranoia, and frequently switches from sound to complete silence. The result is an eerie claustrophobic feeling that pervades the film; it works especially well when Lorre's character is closer and closer to capture, the crowds closing in on him. It's a chilling masterpiece of suspense, and black and white cinematography never looked better. Do yourself a favor and check this one out...you won't soon forget it.