The Killer is Loose is worth seeing for a great Wendell Corey performance. He is both interesting and truly frightening as a mild-mannered criminal, convict and war veteran turned revenge seeker. But every time he is off screen the movie flags badly. It has several other good points, namely a very solid supporting cast, a nice 50s LA vibe, and a very short running time. They packed a lot of action into 73 minutes, and I wish contemporary directors could learn that skill !
But the weaknesses here really hurt the final product. The plot had all the makings of a fine film, but at key turning points, especially in the second half, some of the story line got unbelievable, especially around Rhonda Fleming's character and Jospeh Cotten's. Fleming was clearly chosen for her beauty and physique, but her acting here was truly terrible. And I was perplexed and disappointed by the normally great Joseph Cotten's performance. Was he ill when he made this film ? He over-acted in most scenes, and didn't seem comfortable or confident.
But the weaknesses here really hurt the final product. The plot had all the makings of a fine film, but at key turning points, especially in the second half, some of the story line got unbelievable, especially around Rhonda Fleming's character and Jospeh Cotten's. Fleming was clearly chosen for her beauty and physique, but her acting here was truly terrible. And I was perplexed and disappointed by the normally great Joseph Cotten's performance. Was he ill when he made this film ? He over-acted in most scenes, and didn't seem comfortable or confident.