Wait Until Dark Review: My favorite traditional horror film of all time
I've watched a lot of horror films. Yet, even with almost no gore or jump scares, Wait Until Dark is still one of the most terrifying films I've ever watched—it's simply that great at building suspense. Very few films can capture fear in a way that has lingered with me for so long, but this is one of them; it's one of my favorite films of all time. Wait Until Dark is a home-invasion, psychological-horror masterpiece that could never be discussed enough. So, I'm excited about any chance I get to talk about it, which is why today, I'm thrilled to be writing this Reel Ranker review.
Released in 1967, Wait Until Dark follows Audrey Hepburn's Suzy Hendrix, a recently blinded woman who must defend her apartment against three criminals searching for a heroin-filled doll. When done right, there's nothing better than a one-room horror film, and this is one of those films that does it so perfectly. Having a confined single location makes the film feel so claustrophobic and tense.
Wait Until Dark relies on psychological tension and slow-burn fear, opting to not have any gore and only a couple jump scares. Since Suzy is blind and doesn't really know what's going on, it is so frightening to watch her deal with the situations around her, especially since Audrey Hepburn plays the part incredibly well.
This one element of the film is probably the most important factor in how suspenseful this film gets!
Wait Until Dark proves that well-done psychological tension is always scarier and more gripping than even the most fun of gore-fests. Anchored by Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin's brilliant performances, Wait Until Dark stands as one of the best classic horror films of all time, and, simply, one of the greatest films of all time.
However, composer Henry Mancini's score is a very close second in that race. The score is haunting, with the songs deliberately dissonant in a way that sounds so cool yet so grating and frightening at the same time. The sound design is also impeccable in this film, as Suzy relies on sound to get around, making it a much bigger focal point than in most horror films. Those creaks and movements are huge parts of why the film succeeds in hooking you in and horrifying you. It's also a very grounded film that I could very easily see happening in real life, which is always the type of horror that chills me a lot more than the more supernatural stuff.
And, of course, Alan Arkin's Mr. Roat Jr. comes in as one of my favorite movie villains of all time. His calm, emotionless demeanor throughout the film makes his actions unpredictable and terrifying, even though his actions are simultaneously so calm. His unique, calculating nature has stuck with me for years after this film, to the point that Mr. Roat Jr. has become one of my many random nicknames for my brother (I call him that because he's awesome like Mr. Roat Jr., not because he's evil).
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 98%
Letter Score: S+
Star Ranking: 5 out of 5
Wait Until Dark is one of those films that everybody should see, even if normal horror films aren't at all their thing. This film is so powerful, and I've yet to see anyone dislike it who I've recommended it to... and I've recommended it to a lot of 13-year-olds at church who hate old movies. Yet this masterful 1967 classic still has them talking years after they watched it. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I couldn't recommend it more.
Want to check out a more formal, less concise Wait Until Dark article I wrote? Check it out below!
Brighton Nelson
Enjoy this review? Stay tuned for more articles from The Reel Ranker! Enjoy video games? Check out our sister site, RPG Ranked!
