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Rating: Speaking of the film, one cannot overlook the fantastic performance of Robert Mitchum (Max Cady) and his incredible serenity. Mitchum embodies the quintessential stalker (a character, unfortunately, very relevant today) who is intelligent, vengeful, and very cunning, as he never gets caught by the police; on the contrary, he takes advantage of their pursuits.
The American actor fits the character so well that he almost seems like a real maniac, as if he isn't acting.
The film is characterized by a psychological tension that continuously increases over time, like a climax: from simple followings, the intimidating attitude, and threats, culminating in the final ambush planned and executed by attorney Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck) who, frustrated, no longer knows how to escape Max Cady, deciding to kill him, as any legal means to stop him have proven futile.
A peculiarity of the film is the social denunciation of stalkers and the inability to act against them due to "too few or too many laws" and "the impossibility of arresting a man for his intentions," as stated in the dialogues between Inspector Mark Dutton (Martin Balsam) and attorney Sam Bowden, and between detective Charles Sievers (Telly Savalas) and the girl beaten in the hotel, who terrified by the misogynistic maniac, does not want to file a complaint.
The film is clearly superior to the modern horror/thriller flicks, which are scary only due to jump scares (i.e., natural human reflexes) and special effects... Even I could make something that frightening...
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