Dark Pictures Project

 TSPDT: Recommended

The Desperate Hours is a unique and claustophobic film. The setting is confined for the most part to a single setting; a house in a suburban neighborhood. It fits somewhere in film noir, however in a very niche offset of the genre. Along with Shadow of a Doubt and Cape Fear, the film follows an invasion type narrative where a normal all-american family is disrupted by the presence of an outsider. He (as in my experience this character has always been a male) is often representative of the modern disillusionment urban male taken to criminal extremes. He is nihilistic, and often derives pleasure from the suffering of others. In most cases, his sexuality is also highlighted and threatening. This is not necessarily the case in this film, as Bogart does not exude that particular brand of sexual frenzy in this role, however it does emerge as a threat through his criminal partners. Unlike Cape Fear or Shadow of the Doubt where the danger is for the most part hidden, or simply lurking here it is immediate and constant as the family is literally taken hostage in their own home. Instead of coming off as something of a filmed play however, the use of high key lighting, extreme angles and what has come to be a trademark of Wyler, the use of deep focus enhences what would otherwise be a mundane setting. Shots are allowed to linger as characters move through often large spaces onscreen, this really helps mount the film’s tension as every moment seems drawn out to epic proportions. My own qualms with films of this type being called noir has to do with the manner in which the narratives resolve, which personally falls out of line with my understanding and appreciation of the genre. I don’t think it makes the film any less great, but when Capra’s films offer more downbeat final implications I have some trouble fitting it thematically in the noir genre. I didn’t mention it, but the acting is particularly good. It needed to be considering the locations, and the thrust of the suspense is placed on the shoulders of the performers.