Customer Reviews

The Hidden Room [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this film! I write mysteries and in my mind this is one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever seen. I have been trying to find it for about a year after I finally remembered the name "The Hidden Room" but had no idea it was also called "Obsession". The cat and mouse game between the husband and the Scotland Yard detective is priceless and the relationship that developes between the husband and his wife's lover is so well crafted it is seamless. I saw it years and years ago and it has always remained in the back of my mind. I highly recommend this film.

Quite accidently, I stumbled onto this film. What a great story, and good cast. A tidy little noir from our English cousins!

But the quality of this DVD is not that impressive. Sharpness and contrast are not the worse I've ever seen; but certainly doesn't look much better than an Alpha release at times. (Who is WHAM USA, anyway???)

Despite the fact that it is single layered, the DVD offers no extras with the exception of a very lame slide show of images from the film that I suppose are to take the place of genuine stills. Truly a disappointment of a release and a shame as the film is prime noir. The only real incentives to purchase it is the outstanding quality of the film , story and cast, and the fact that it's relatively cheap at the moment.

BUT THIS FILM DESERVES A CLASS "A" RELEASE!!!

This is a fasinating and unusual mystery from Britain. I've seen a lot of mysteries and this strikes me as very original . I definitely recommend it to fans of film noir.

I can add very little to what others have written.
It is a very, very good film, with an extremely interesting plot, lots of suspense, nicely delineated characters and brilliant dialogues (characters are well educated, and that shows in their lines).
Some humour -specially on the oddities and mannerisms of the British high class- is also present.
It is to be recommended with no reservations.
***SPOILERS!!!! Stop reading if you have not watched this film. Do not ruin the pleasure for yourself, please.
Just to show how clever I am, a couple of pointers:
The plot concocted by the bad guy to eliminate his rival is too farfetched, too convoluted and too failure prone to be really credible. And the bad guy does not have enough reasons to act like that --he knows his wife's adultery is habitual, so killing one suitor shouldn't make any difference.
Second, the omniscient detective learns too much, too soon from too little evidence; he jumps a too big gun and reaches the right conclusion too easily. The laborious work of a Columbo is largely missing here.
At the end of the film the detective answers the Bad Guy that penalty for what he did varies, but that in any case he will not "be chained up". "Chained Up" means "to be put in jail" or my British English is lacking here? If so, it means that a fellow who committed kidnapping and attempted murder will go off with a slap in the wrist?
In spite of these flaws, don't miss it.

I kept asking myself - why didn't Bill start a fire to create smoke and alert a rescue? He had everything he needed in his prison: matches, kindling, wood, a bathtub and access to water. Why, Bill? WHY ??