Peeping Tom (1960) 4K UHD Review

4 star restoration of a deeply influential horror classic.

Peeping Tom is a 1960 British slasher/serial killer horror film, directed by Michael Powell (A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes) and written by Leo Marks (Twisted Nerve).

Although it was poorly received upon its release due to its controversial subject matter, it has since come to be regarded as a very important step on the path to the slasher/horror flicks we all love so much.

It has enjoyed a 4K restoration and is available to buy as a Vintage Classics Edition on 4k UHD, Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Studiocanal.

“Hello. I don’t know how many times we’ve passed each other on the stairs, but tonight I’m determined to at least say hello to you, so hello.”

Mark Lewis (Carl Boehm – Sissi) is a focus puller working at a local film studio. In his spare time, he takes smutty pictures of girls upstairs at a newsagents, to be sold under the counter for a bit of extra cash. In the evenings, he is also a serial killer, using his video camera to capture snuff films which he can then watch for his delectation.

An aspiring filmmaker, he lives in the house he inherited from his father, which he can’t afford to run. To help with the upkeep, he rents out a couple of rooms and keeps the top floor for his own, complete with dark room converted from the laboratory which belonged to his cruel, scientist father. He keeps to himself and his tenants don’t know he is the landlord.

Things change one day when his downstairs tenant Helen (Anna Massey – Frenzy, The Machinist) spots him watching her through the window at her 21st birthday party and decides to befriend him. Her blind mother (Maxine Audley – The Vikings) is suspicious, she can hear him playing films at all times of night, but can’t prove anything.

Helen has noticed that he never goes anywhere without his camera, but can Chief Inspector Gregg (Jack Watson – The Wild Geese, The Hill) crack the case and track him down before it’s too late?

“I’d adore some water. You see, a hostess can’t drink water at her own party. It looks like a hint to the guests.”

Peeping Tom is a very unsettling film, as it was intended to be. The filming style puts you right at the heart of what the killer is feeling and seeing and it makes for an uncomfortable experience.

Although there is no graphic violence shown, it is certainly heavily implied and while we don’t see the kills, we see his reactions to them and that implicates the viewer in the voyeurism happening on screen. This is very clever and almost certainly goes a long way to explain the films negative reception upon its original release. Coupled with some amazing acting performances, which actually make you feel sympathy towards the protagonist, this film brought a new slant to the idea of a serial killer film. It’s great to see it restored and recognised as the work of art it truly is.

With lots of special features, this is an excellent release and well worth adding to your horror collection.

“I feel at home here. I visit this room every night. The blind always live in the rooms they live under. Every night you switch on this film machine. What are these films you can’t wait to look at?”