moonspinner55 Review of The Seventh Victim

The Seventh Victim (1943)

Something different from Val Lewton, however not a complete success

[5/10 · 22 April 2007]

Urban creepiness from producer Val Lewton, here thankfully abandoning his penchant for voodoo-island gimmickry for intriguing story about a young woman searching New York City for her missing sister, eventually discovering her sibling was involved with a devil-worshiping cult. Mark Robson directed and, while he's careful setting up this plot, he isn't very nimble (his pacing drags). In the central role, Kim Hunter isn't a colorful actress--she's not saucy or salty, nor does she crack wise--and her lack of personality combined with Robson's baby steps may tax the patience of viewers hoping for a brash scare-flick. The premise and execution are certainly unusual, yet the film is merely a precursor to the spate of devil films which followed and is not equal to the best of them. ** from ****