Yes, it gets a bit confusing here and there, and even with a small cast, figuring out who is who, what's going on and the timeline can be perplexing. The fabulous opening shows a young woman being kept chained to a wall, appearing as if she is about to be shot in cold blood. This gives a sense of Gothic horror to the film, but then it switches to the domestic setting of the home of Sonia Dresdel and Colin Gordon, a middle aged couple having a discussion, and interrupted by phone calls and visitors. Then, there's an apparent violent murder in an oddly shaped country home, involving Karel Stepanek whom we see about to be bludgeoned. News of his murder gets around, and the frequent appearance of a strange old man (Michael Martin-Harvey) creates more questions than answers.
The audience gets to meet other suspects which include Dresdel's friend (Eleanor Summerfield) and her husband Hubert Gregg, adding a bit more confusion but a lot of suspense. This is worth putting up with 75 minutes of little detail, but within that detail, there are the hidden details which are revealed in the very suspenseful last 15 minutes.
That is when everything comes together so neatly, and you realize how clever this really was in keeping you wondering what type of mystery you were watching and if it would ever go anywhere. Technically excellent, this feature is terrific black and white photography and superb editing, and a musical score that adds to the suspense. It is a have to go in with a patient mood because otherwise, you could be frustrated quickly and move on to something else.
The audience gets to meet other suspects which include Dresdel's friend (Eleanor Summerfield) and her husband Hubert Gregg, adding a bit more confusion but a lot of suspense. This is worth putting up with 75 minutes of little detail, but within that detail, there are the hidden details which are revealed in the very suspenseful last 15 minutes.
That is when everything comes together so neatly, and you realize how clever this really was in keeping you wondering what type of mystery you were watching and if it would ever go anywhere. Technically excellent, this feature is terrific black and white photography and superb editing, and a musical score that adds to the suspense. It is a have to go in with a patient mood because otherwise, you could be frustrated quickly and move on to something else.