This lesser title from Val Lewton ’s RKO unit (a psychological character study rather than a metaphysical thriller) should work better than it does, but it’s laid low by stiff megging and a crew of non-charismatic actors. (Albeit, Lawrence Tierney cultists will enjoy his gruesome demise.) Richard Dix works subtly to craft his increasingly unhinged/homicidal ship’s Captain, but he’s not exciting to watch. And unlike other regular Lewton helmers, Jacques Tourneur & Robert Wise, Mark Robson is unable to make the Poverty Row economies work for the pic. The visuals just look cramped and impoverished rather than dramatically abstracted.
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