Review of The Wages of Fear (1953) by Darren J — 11 May 2014
Overrated. Implausible. I saw the full version in a theater. I wanted to like it. Absolutely NOT among the most suspenseful films of all time. Cheesy. Annoying. Unnecessarily long. The action doesn't start until an hour in.
Worst of all, the characters are unlikable, especially the main one. The ending is ridiculous. I didn't believe most of it for a moment. If this is any indication of what Clouzot's other work is like, I will pass.
I still can't figure out certain actions and choices made by certain characters. Worse, I fail to understand the choices made by the director/writer. And the existentialism was in your face at the end.
This was not a subtle film. And Clouzot is NOT the French Hitchcock or ANY Hitchcock. This is just not a great film at all. And the raving critics destroyed it by their absurd overrating. And the suspense was not non-stop.
It was stop and go, with the first half of the film having ZERO suspense. Never again will I believe critics writing about such films. There is a reason most people have not heard of this film. And the director cast a relative (Vera Clouzot) as the totally unnecessary character of Linda.
She serves no purpose whatsoever, other than to have a reason to have his wife or relative in the film.
This review of The Wages of Fear (1953) was written by Darren J on 11 May 2014.
The Wages of Fear has generally received very positive reviews.
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