The last horror, thriller or suspense film you watched

On a lazy Saturday afternoon I caught Midnight Lace (1960) on the telly. A tidy, stylised Hitchcock inspired little thriller of superb production, which plays around with the spiralling concept of ”Is someone toying around or is it all in your head?”. I thought the shady atmosphere, suspicious toiling and tension fueled development of its delirious chain of events are more riveting, and fulfilling than the predictably fizzled-out denouncement. The journey was certainly better than the destination. As for the twist, it virtually rehashes another suspense classic of golden age cinema and it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Doris Day plays a wife of a rich Londonder (Rex Harrison), becoming the target of threatening phone calls and being stalked by an ominous looking man dressed in black. She finds herself pushed over the edge, when people begin to doubt any of this is truly happening. Day’s performance is of full commitment. At times very hysterical in her commotions, but nonetheless believable and entertaining in depicting her unstable mindset. Those night time scenes of Day trembling in fear after the phone call, or jumping at shadows encroaching in her room, were evocativly lit up, filtered with potent colours and photographed to great dramatic effect. Also showing up in solid bit parts are Roddy McDowell, John Gavin and Myrna Loy.