Wait Until Dark

Directed by Terence Young, Wait Until Dark follows Audrey Hepburn’s Susy Hendrix, recently blinded in an auto accident, as she’s stalked and menaced by three men (Richard Crenna’s Mike, Jack Weston’s Carlino, and Alan Arkin’s Roat) looking to retrieve a heroin-stuffed doll. It’s an inherently stirring premise that is, at the outset, employed to somewhat underwhelming effect by Young, as the filmmaker, working from Robert Carrington and Jane-Howard Carrington’s screenplay, delivers an excessively deliberate and expository opening stretch that prevents the viewer from embracing the material or characters – with, especially, a long scene detailing the three criminals’ convoluted exploits within Lisa’s apartment doing little to alleviate the arms-length vibe. There’s little doubt, then, that Wait Until Dark improves exponentially as it progresses into its increasingly engrossing second half, and it’s clear, ultimately, that the picture’s growing emphasis on the protagonist and villains’ cat-and-mouse exploits cultivates an atmosphere that’s eventually unbearably tense – with the final half hour boasting a white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat feel that’s nothing short of astonishing in its effectiveness. The end result is a fairly timeless thriller that still ranks as one of the very best examples of the genre, with the electrifying third act enhanced by the captivating efforts of an exceedingly talented cast. (Hepburn’s sympathetic work here is mostly eclipsed by Arkin’s spellbinding and frequently terrifying turn as the sinister antagonist, to be sure.)

**** out of ****