Loner Mark Lewis works at a film studio during the day and, at night, takes racy photographs of women. Also he's making a documentary on fear, which involves recording the reactions of victims as he murders them. He befriends Helen, the daughter of the family living in the apartment below his, and he tells her vaguely about the movie he is making.
Direction
Powell makes you the monster — the camera IS the killer.
Cinematography
Point-of-view shots that revolutionized horror forever.
Acting
Böhm's fragile, sympathetic monster — you almost root for him.
Director
Michael Powell
Karlheinz Böhm
Mark Lewis
Moira Shearer
Vivian
Anna Massey
Helen Stephens
Maxine Audley
Mrs. Stephens
Brenda Bruce
Dora
Miles Malleson
Elderly Gentleman Customer
Esmond Knight
Arthur Baden
Martin Miller
Dr. Rosen
Michael Goodliffe
Don Jarvis
Jack Watson
Chief Insp. Gregg
Shirley Anne Field
Pauline Shields
Pamela Green
Milly
Robert Crewdson
Shop Assistant on Film Set (uncredited)
Nigel Davenport
Det. Sgt. Miller (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Powell was half of the legendary Powell & Pressburger duo; this solo film made him a pariah until Scorsese resurrected his reputation in the 70s.
The film's opening night reportedly had audience members screaming at Powell to die — the same visceral reaction Mark films in his victims.
GB
