I went less for the name of Hitchcock and more for the name of Highsmith – the legendary English filmmaker having chosen Patricia Highsmith’s novel to adapt for the screen.
And it is vintage Highsmith: the theme of one man insinuating himself into the life of another, the dark undertones of a seemingly innocent encounter. This is vintage Hitchcock too: beautifully shot, with his trademark eye for suspense. The opening sequence, for example, introducing the two men only through their shoes is masterful.
But what I wasn’t expecting was how funny it would be! There were several moments when the audience collectively laughed out loud, bringing us (strangers too) together as only the dark auditorium of a cinema can.
