House by the River (1950)

 Fritz Lang's "House by the River"


In this near-expressionist drama, Lang takes the darkness of his previous films and turns it up to 11. All levels of violence, corruption, and all around evil surround our protagnoist in House by the River. A mysterious writer commits homocide and entices his brother to help him cover up the act. As the film progessess, the truth slowly begins to come out, only for his brother to be at the center of the blame. The utter depravity of the protagonist makes this piece as black as they come. 

To aid this blackness, Lang employs the use of light and shadow to create a oppressive atmostphere. Lang biographer says of the film, "Light splashes off surfaces, moonlight spills through frosted windows, the wind riffles the trees and curtains. Everything in the film is dark and shiny and foreboding. Scene after scene shows the director at the height of his ingenuity - working out the depths of his own despair. Lang's direction was never so lush and smothering."



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