Wait Until Dark
The blinds moving up and down...the squeaking shoes...and then the knife whistling past her ear...
Now two are left: Susy, recently blinded and still learning how to live in a sighted world, and Roat, a psychopathic killer. Roat wants a heroin-stuffed doll he thinks Susy has. All Susy wants is to survive.
Dim the lights, check the door's chain-lock, and brace yourself for a chiller as polished as the steel of Roat's blade. Audrey Hepburn earned her fifth Academy Award nomination as Susy. Alan Arkin is pure evil as Roat, master of disguise and accents. Jack Weston and Richard Crenna co-star as his henchmen. Building to a heart-pounding one-on-one confrontation, Wait Until Dark "belongs to the screen's most memorable thrillers." (David Shipman, The Story of Cinema).
Member Reviews
Gripping and Masterfully Produced - c4th
Wait Until Dark is a superb thriller based on a simple premise. Introduce a character with vulnerability and then watch as others take advantage with potentially deadly consequences. What can be scarier than facing a desperate and violent adversary unsure of his intent, unable to observe or anticipate his moves?
Suzy Hendrix (Audrey Hepburn) is a blind lady who loves and trusts her husband Sam (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) immensely. When Sam attempts to play Good Samaritan, their lives are intruded by criminals (Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Jack Weston) involved in a smuggling operation complicated by double crosses. Suzie`s ability to overcome the vulnerability of her physical challenges and her unwavering trust in Sam are severely tested as the crooks carry out a complex charade designed to manipulate Suzy into uncovering what she doesn`t know - the whereabouts of a doll, which has been oddly misplaced.
Wait Until Dark is a masterpiece of writing, direction, and acting resulting in a gripping mystery flavoured with rich multi-layered characters. Viewers cannot help but experience Suzy`s vulnerability thanks to Hepburn’s disciplined portrayal as a student learning to function in a sightless world. The suspense builds as one criminal, Talman (Richard Crenna), deceives Suzy despite a growing respect. It then culminates in a chilling scene pitting a frantic but resourceful Suzy against sadistic and ruthless Roat superbly played by Alan Arkin. Director Terence Young, who worked on early Bond 007 films, demonstrates his mastery at suspense and startling moments. The "leap" and the "knife crawl" by Arkin`s character, now regarded as classic, are pivotal moments that just may cause you squirm in your seat or leap completely out of it.Second to one - TaBobo
I believe this to be amongst Hepburn's best performances. Second (or tied for second) to her role in Charade.
Rarely has one location played so well. Friedkin came close with Bug, but only close.
Arkin brought his soul to nearly every performance. One of the greatest actors to play the screen. He's incredible here of course playing a complete psychotic.
I recommend Wait Until Dark without hesitation.One Hell of Twisted Ride - CanCinephile
For its time and its place, this film was tremendously twisted and almost disturbing, considering that it's main villain was likely on every drug known to man and twisted beyond belief. It's also very powerful and enlightening, chock full of so many metaphorical touches to the Hepburn character's blindness that it's amazing some of it goes missed by its audience.
This film ages incredibly well with Alan Arkin playing one of the finest pieces of vile slime I have ever seen on screen and with Audrey Hepburn absolutely shining in her role as a smart and crisp blind woman trying to defend her husband's good name.
The plot twists are tremendous and fast, despite being confined to one or two settings, and the transition from play to screenplay shows off the prowess of the production team like few films of any era. Just terrific work on all ends here, this is almost the perfect thriller and really creates an aura of darkness out of the material, making for a chilling evening especially if you watch it with all the lights off like it was intended.
Wonderfully dark, chilling piece.
Member Reviews
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Gripping and Masterfully Produced - c4th
Wait Until Dark is a superb thriller based on a simple premise. Introduce a character with vulnerability and then watch as others take advantage with potentially deadly consequences. What can be scarier than facing a desperate and violent adversary unsure ...Second to one - TaBobo
I believe this to be amongst Hepburn's best performances. Second (or tied for second) to her role in Charade.
Rarely has one location played so well. Friedkin came close with Bug, but only close.
Arkin brought his soul to nearly every performance. ...One Hell of Twisted Ride - CanCinephile
For its time and its place, this film was tremendously twisted and almost disturbing, considering that it's main villain was likely on every drug known to man and twisted beyond belief. It's also very powerful and enlightening, chock full of so many metaphorical ...