Sudden Fear

At first this seems very bland and predictable, but around the halfway point is starts getting awesome and just keeps getting awesomer. The tension builds into a fever pitch, culminating in one of the best chase sequences I've ever seen. The climax is full of more amazing little moments than I count, with fantastic chiaroscuro photography and another terrific Bernstein score. Palance is menacing, Grahame is her usual wonderful self, and Crawford's at the top of her game. A perfect ending, too.

Two films in one, and both are great. The first half is a brooding but mostly light romance with both Crawford and Palance surprising me with the restraint in their performances. I fully bought into their romance. In the second half things turn, and the shift in tone carries over to the cinematography and performances, which get broader and creepier, but still very effective. Crawford did great with the role, selling her various changes in mood and resolve. The final sequence is a real treat.

Palance's face got more angles than a trigonometry exam

Geeze. It's like a car parked at the top of a very steep hill being given the slightest push. The building cat and mouse games are interesting enough, but the whole sequence toward the end in the apartment is just overwhelming in how far it stretches the tension, and then there's a chase right after! Palance has a little trouble in the quiet stretches, but he sure can do crazy. Gloria Grahame owns, as always. Definitely worth the initial investment.

What can I say? Joan Crawford in a closet in terror of a wind-up toy! C'mon, classic!!!

Crawford gives it her all. The plot took a long time to get going, and while it got much more suspenseful as it went along and the latter part of the film contained some good ideas, it didn't entirely satisfy me on the whole.

Rock solid noir.

Viewed March 21, 2021.

I'm finding more that when Joan Crawford had the right role, it really works. Suspenseful crime drama.

Good film noir, but not the best I've seen. Crawford is good and so is Palance.

Every time I see Joan Crawford all I say after the film is OMG! That scene in the closet with the light touching her face was the thing of legend. Palance really does have a fucked up face.

Excellent thriller that starts out AMAZING and finishes WELL. Definitely sucks the viewer in, though.

88.000

watched: 2017, 2021

Much happier with a noir that slides inexorably from earnest romantic drama to expressionist nightmare than the other way around.

Em honra do centenário de Jack Palance hoje filme #1. Se eu soubesse que esse seria o filmaço que se mostrou, o teria assistido antes. DVD Versátil Filme Noir Volume 8.

Great noir! Palance is menacing as all hell.

About as good as a suspense thriller gets. The build-up of tension has a perfect mixture of intrigue and reserve. It is also noteworthy how well the story is condensed; this could have easily been an hour longer.

Solid noir with a great cast and classic noir visuals.

86.250

Let me just start by saying: Running for your life with your high heels on is a known Joan Crawford superpower. Female viewers are strongly urged not to try it at home. Crawford, by the way, is not such a good actress, even though this is one of her greatest efforts. Sudden Fear's finale is also something I found underwhelming. Still, it's quite well crafted, more sophisticated and a lot more suspenseful than most thrillers of its day and age. Enjoyable.

the story really seems to defy all forms of logic, so much that i found it hard to become invested in it. joan crawford seems like shes overacting a lot of the time. cant say i found this to be very suspenseful or thrilling at all

Um, I saw this? That's never a good sign.