Review of M

Remake of the Fritz Lang classic about the hunt for a child murderer is a good little film in its own right. To be certain the film is not the equal of the original, however it is a solid film in its own right. The film plays like a "daylight" film noir (since kids are only really out during the day it has to be set during the day) mixed a bit with a procedural ala Dragnet, though the people we follow most are actually the crooks of the city who view the killer as a hindrance to their own ends. One of the films strong points is how we see the madness of the mob as regular citizens and even the "bad guys" try to get the right man, and aren't always successful. If there is any trouble with the film its that David Wayne as the killer is not the presence of Peter Lorre. Wayne is probably closer to a real sociopath in that he is a little nothing of a man which is terrifying thought since he could be anyone, but its not exciting on the screen because he is such a nobody. Worth tracking down.