Peeping Tom (1960)

Peeping Tom is a brilliant horror film. The killer in this film is a character who as a child was psychologically abused as a result of being a lab rat for his father's scientific studies involving fear and the human psyche. As a result he inherits extreme voyeuristic tendencies which the director, using clever tactics, forces the audience to experience as well. This makes the killer feel real (as opposed to the generic and over-dramatized villains found in many horror films today) and creates a very personal experience for the viewer.

The atmosphere throughout the film's entirety is filled with unsettling tension and the director creates this without polluting the movie with unecessary gore and shock value. The ending is refreshingly unpredictable and a perfect touch to this daunting tragedy. The film is also visually pleasing as it is shot using rich color and inventive camera placement (for its time). Definitely a must-see for all fans of horror.


Fun fact: Peeping Tom was rejected in 1960 for being too shocking and vulgar, destroying Powell's career as a director