‘Best horror film ever made’ is a 1973 ‘masterpiece’ | Films | Entertainment
The movie follows married couple after the tragic death of their young daughter (Image: BBC)
There have been countless horror films released over the years, but only a handful are still regularly described as true masterpieces more than 50 years later. One British thriller from the 1970s has managed to do exactly that and is still widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made.
The movie has a haunting atmosphere, an emotional story and a disturbing final twist. It also continues to impress critics and viewers, currently holding a 93% critic score and 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many fans say it remains one of the most chilling and emotionally powerful horror films ever released.
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The film stars Donald Sutherland (Image: BBC)
That film is Don’t Look Now, the 1973 psychological horror thriller starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie.
Directed by Nicolas Roeg, the movie follows married couple John and Laura Baxter after the tragic drowning of their young daughter Christine.
The pair travel to Venice after John accepts work restoring an old church, but strange events soon begin to unfold around them.
While in the city, Laura meets two elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be clairvoyant and says she can communicate with the couple’s dead daughter.
John initially dismisses the claims, but he soon begins experiencing unsettling visions and repeatedly catches sight of a mysterious small figure wearing a red coat similar to the one Christine wore before her death.
As the story unfolds, the film explores grief, loss and psychological trauma while building towards one of horror cinema’s most famous endings.
The screenplay was adapted from Daphne du Maurier’s 1971 short story of the same name.
Among many things, the film became famous for its unusual editing style, dreamlike atmosphere and controversial love scene between Sutherland and Christie.
Over the years, Don’t Look Now has become recognised as one of the defining British horror films of all time.
Its reputation has continued to grow since release, with the film now regularly appearing in lists of the greatest British movies ever made.
In 1999, a British Film Institute poll of people working across film and television ranked it among the top British films of the 20th century.
Julie Christie in Don’t Look Now (Image: BBC)
Time Out later named it one of the greatest British films ever made, while Sight & Sound also included it in its respected critics and directors polls.
Viewers also continue to praise the film. One person said in a Rotten Tomatoes review: “This haunting thriller and study of the psychology of grief is one of the most accomplished, and most troubling horror films.”
Another added: “Best horror film ever made. The final twist in this masterpiece is wild.”
A third wrote: “Haunting in both the psychological and emotional sense, as the feeling of grief is felt in every scene of this sad film.”
Someone else commented: “The most disturbing film I’ve ever seen. Really one of the best classic horror movies of all time.”
Don’t Look Now is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer with a valid TV licence.
