Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Forumrxes Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

kkonrad-29861 'The Lodger' is the first real Hitchcock movie and it is his best from his silent era. With this movie Hitchcock managed to establish many of his trademarks (including his cameos). Suspenseful and interesting screenplay has enough turns to keep the film from being predictable. I think, I don't need to go over the plot, but the mystery, killings, revenge, love is all there. Plus Hitchcock plays wonderful trick with revealing the killer.Delightfully moody mystery piece that really treats the eye. Mus see film for every fan of Hitchcock and silent era films general

Coventry I'm hardly ever in the right mood to watch silent movies, but as a self-declared cinephile, you should make some necessary exceptions. The earliest work of Alfred Hitchcock, for example, since he undoubtedly is one of the (if not THE) most important director of all times. Admittedly I don't worship the Master of Suspense's entire repertoire, but I am extremely fond of his horror/thriller movies dealing with psychopathic murderers, and thus "The Lodger" ought to be considered as mandatory viewing. I can only concur with what I've read in numerous reviews, namely that Hitchcock's preferences for macabre tales, mentally burdened lead characters, pitch black humor and unorthodox plot twists are already clearly noticeable here in this primitive story inspired by the Jack the Ripper case. Visually and stylistically, young Alfred's creative mind also was already far more advanced than the technological possibilities of that era. It's abundantly clear that he wanted to do so much more with his cameras, lighting effects and sound, but the film industry simply wasn't ready or equipped yet. How frustrating that must have been. Anyway, as said, the story is a slightly more polished re-enactment of the Ripper murders that kept London under siege at the end of the 19th century. Instead of prostitutes, the killer is exclusively targeting "fair-haired" girls and for some reason he's only prowling the streets on Tuesday evenings. When a mysterious and deeply introvert young man applies for the room she has for rent, the landlady slowly begins to suspect that he might be wanted killer. After all, he often covers half of his face with a scarf, just as how witnesses described the killer, and he shows a lot of interest for the beautiful fair-haired daughter Daisy. Hitchcock demonstrates his vision and talents through maintaining a continuously unsettling atmosphere, a couple of genuinely tense sequences and a few stunning (especially for 1927) camera angles. The finale, illustrating a relentless manhunt by a furious mob, is truly astounding and certain themes from the denouement would later grow out to be director's trademarks. Acting performances are always difficult to judge in silent films, but I must say I was perplexed by the appearance of Malcolm Keen. He's supposed to be the honest police detective, but his eyes and charisma are far more evil and menacing than those of any serial killer I've ever seen!

CJBx7 London is gripped by panic over a mysterious serial killer with a predilection for young blond women. Meanwhile, an enigmatic young man moves into a boarding house. Could he be the killer? Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.The main star of this film is Ivor Novello, who was better known as a songwriter. Novello brings an appropriately enigmatic, shadowy quality to his character and only occasionally lapses into melodramatic gestures. He has a wonderful rapport with June Tripp, who portrays Daisy, a model and the daughter of the boarding house's landlady. Marie Ault and Arthur Chesney also do fine work as the owners of the house, friendly, then fearful of the potential killer living in their house. Also noteworthy is Malcolm Keen as Joe, a policeman who loves Daisy and is investigating the nearby serial killings.THE LODGER (1927) is often considered Alfred Hitchcock's first truly distinctive film. Much of what would inform his later films is present here. Hitchcock creates a unique and unnerving atmosphere inspired by German Expressionism. His use of light and shadow in many shots is fascinating, and the editing is accomplished. This movie flows at a good, even pace; not a moment goes on longer than necessary. He shows his mastery of building suspense and anticipation. He uses modernistic design in some of the title cards in order to heighten the atmosphere of tension and dread. The movie's climax is riveting. The audience genuinely wonders as to whether or not this young lodger is capable of murder, and the actors effectively portray their characters' fear and apprehension.Overall, THE LODGER is an effective start to one of the most distinguished careers in movie history, and merits viewing today. SCORE: 8/10

binapiraeus After a few flops in his early career, Alfred Hitchcock in 1926 tried his hand for the first time at the crime genre - and the result, "The Lodger", became his first big hit, of course. And it already introduced to the audience MANY of his later famous features: the storyline, the suspense-enhancing effects, the haunting, creepy music - and of course the plot twists...The movie really goes RIGHT into the matter from the very beginning: in the first scene, we see a young blonde being strangled... It was the work of the "Avenger" again, as we soon learn, who is described as 'tall, with his face hidden behind a scarf'; immediately, the news is spread by the newspapers and over the radio, and everybody reads or listens, shocked and curious at the same time, just like this was a crime novel or a radio play; but the girls who work at the nearby club called "Golden Curls" really are a little worried by this maniac serial killer and his 'preference' for blonds...And then, next door at Mrs. Bunting's inn, a mysterious stranger turns up to rent a room - tall, with a scarf over his face... And not only that: Mrs. Bunting's pretty young daughter Daisy is - a blonde...Slowly though, the lodger, with his good manners and appealing ways, wins Daisy's confidence, which makes her boyfriend Joe pretty jealous; but she ignores him as well as her parents' warnings, and goes out with him - on a TUESDAY night, the day the 'Avenger' always commits his murders...! Now, from here on, we who have seen the movie are not allowed to give away any further information, of course...It's really formidable how Hitch, with his FIRST thriller, at once seemed to have found his so very own, special style; Hitchcock fans will recognize LOTS of issues he later used again in all those classics that brought him the reputation of the BEST director of thrillers there ever was. But "The Lodger" isn't only of special interest for fans of the director or the genre: it's also a very interesting time document.It gives us a very nice glimpse of the Age of the Flappers, with their bobs and their loose dresses, and some good old jazz music to match with the atmosphere of the time. But as soon as the plot becomes dramatic, we hear that strangely threatening music that sends shivers up our spine and lets us feel that something horrible's about to happen...There are movies that NEVER get dated; "The Lodger" is one of them. It's still as IMMENSELY suspenseful from the first until the last moment as it was 90 years ago!