Dir. Mark Robson | Now Streaming On: Prime | Rating: 4/5

Horror noir is an acquired taste. Much of it is dated, but a few are very smart for their time and have left lasting impacts on the genre. The Seventh Victim has withstood the test of time in its stunning imagery and daring storyline for the era. ⁠
⁠
Scenes from this film have influenced Psycho (1960), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), and countless others, including works as recent as Archive 81 (2022). It’s hardly scary by contemporary standards but upholds an impressive atmosphere of moody suspense that is still untouchable eight decades later. It feeds off the brooding and existentialist theme of nihilism, which is central to this story. The characters suffer with the oppressive fear that their lives are meaningless in the grand scheme of reality and seek to find meaning in death instead. ⁠
⁠
This review is getting a bit melodramatic, so let’s come back to earth. Nihilism is usually a huge turn off for me in any media – too high brow, dramatic, and predictable. But I think when you encounter an example of it done well, it can impress you. Between seeing this film and spending 10+ hours reading my best friend’s writing, which all stems from this same theme, I’ve grown to appreciate the artistic touch of nihilism a bit more in the last year. (I’m a decent friend, what can I say?) ⁠
⁠
But, The Seventh Victim still holds true to the key attributes of noir. If this isn’t your taste, I can’t say you’ll enjoy it. But, if you’re looking to build out your knowledge of the genre, this is a critical piece. ⁠
⁠
Know Before You Watch: Features death, suicide. ⁠