Baked Cinema, M 1931 Review

M Review ( Not Rated )

Fritz Lang's Masterpiece M; is about the hunt for a child killer who has taken yet another victim. The suspected killer is played brilliantly by Peter Lorre; largely a character actor but here he commands the screen. The film was made in Germany, and is one of the finest films from that country. Being made in 1931, meant it was made just as the Nazis rose to power, nevertheless the subject here is equally disturbing. Anyone calling themselves a serious film aficionado needs to see M. Saying it's ahead of its time, is an understatement and Lorre's monologue at the end of the film is truly captivating. His performance in the climax is intense, disturbing, powerful and truly a stunning work of art. The film is one taunt suspenseful scene after another; Fritz Lang was a true visionary.

This is one of the most haunting and disturbing accounts of a serial killer put to film. The fact that you never see any of the murders take place; make's the film even stronger. Less is truly more in this masterpiece of cinema; every scene was shot with extreme precision and attention to detail. The way the camera lingers slowly, and the way Lang chose to have or not have sound in certain scenes, this along with the entire way the sound is edited and utilized provides masterful impact.

The way the story works; particularly the ending is something few modern films could achieve. It's not loud and action packed; in fact, it takes place in one room, and to top that off there's very little violence in the last act. However; it is incredibly tense, Lorre's monologue, as I mentioned before, leaves you breathless. Lang was a master of suspense; truly eclipsing the work of Hitchcock. This film is a milestone; I could keep going on and on about M, the fact that Lorre could be so monstrously evil, but also compel sympathy and nearly bring you to his side by the film's end.

  

A film like this would have trouble being made today let alone over eighty years ago. I have never seen a film done quite like this; it's part horror, thriller, and police procedural. The film is about the relentless hunt for the killer; but also to save the last girl taken, to find her before he kills her. But it's not vigilante justice like you have seen before; the film ends in a kangaroo court trial. Lang considered this to be his finest work, and I have to agree.

There is not a single flaw in this film; it is simply one of the few examples of a perfectly made film. Riveting and evocative filled with superb performances, M is a film that you may not have heard of, but one that you need to see. When classic cinema is talked about; this film should always be mentioned. A film this old could be terribly dated by today's standards, but M is simply timeless. It portrays a killer with more depth than most films made on the subject, and was made by a true cinematic visionary. Fritz Lang's M is true cinematic art.