Review of Sorcerer (1977) by Compi24 — 11 Aug 2019

Based more on the 1950 George Arnaud novel "The Wages Of Fear" and less on the 1953 Henri-Georges Clouzot film "The Wages Of Fear" (according to the director, that is) "Sorcerer" follows that same, legendary premise from beginning to end, but with a few twists here and there to keep even the more learned audience members on their proverbial toes.

I just still can't get over the brilliance of the premise here. There's almost no other logline in the history of filmmaking that's as simple, yet pregnant with inherent tension and unease. Except for "Speed," of course.

Now, did Friedkin somehow manage to mess up a story idea that was simply good from the get-go? Not at all. Yes, the second half is a revelation of stress and horror, but even the first act exhibits such a deft narrative hand.

Everything is staged so authentically, leaving you wondering how the hell Friedkin managed to capture certain moments safely and without any anxieties of his own. But back to that second half, nearly every minute of it features some of the most intense, knee-jerk terror and strain you'll ever see in any movie, let alone one from the director of "The Exorcist.

" An absolute must-see, all quibbles aside.