What a peculiar, fascinating movie. Many other movies since have reused and remixed many of its plot elements, but the strong performances and occasional detours into a Lynch-esque surreality make this stand out even 60 years later.
We’ve seen serial killers and learned about their tragic origin stories many times since, but Karlheinz Böhm’s understated and endearing performance makes this character still stand out. The movie is simultaneously rooted in a real-world griminess but also makes room for dance sequences and bizarre side characters to shine.
Like many movies of this era, it has some pacing problems and it was always interesting but rarely gripping. But these are minor complaints against such a memorable, unique movie.
