This isn't brilliant filmmaking, but it does have compelling facets. Loretta Young is terrific, as is Barry Sullivan. As in The Letter, a piece of correspondence takes on epic significance. Garnett makes mundane surburbia as menacing as any dark city streets, with obstacles arising in the form of a nosy neighbor, a precocious child, a pushy aunt or an obstinate postman. I also was impressed with how the film didn't take the cop-out ending that I was certain it would.

This could have been a great noir, the story is perfectly crafted for it, but the atmosphere is entirely lacking making it hard to even classify it as one at all.

A taught thriller with a frantic script that spirals out of control. Loretta is captivating as everything unravels before her eyes. An unsung pot boiler.