10 Rillington place is a film that deals with many things; these things range from pushing censorship in content and what it is we're seeing yet it also deals with conventions that make films particularly enjoyable. Given the time that this film was made (1971), and granted I'm not entirely sure of my historical facts; I don't think too many films were made around this era that were based on real life serial killers which automatically makes it rather ahead of its time.
I think 10 Rillington Place is a film that really sets some sort of a new benchmark in both the thriller and horror genre. It creates a definitive 'world' in which the film can take place a world which seems very real and is put across through thanks to feelings that anything could happen and that anybody could run into anybody; this creates a very unpredictable and uncomfortable atmosphere, especially if you're like me and you didn't know the full story about the real life events of John Christie.
The film is also shot in a way that makes it look very grimy and very bleak London in the 1940s and 50s is a perfect setting as run down houses and depressing to look at streets litter the exterior shots of the film when murder is in the air. This changes somewhat when Timothy Evans (Hurt) ends up in the country due to certain events as we're then presented with grass, hills and all things nice but the exterior shots of the countryside are limited in their presentation as although he's a million miles from the murders, he can't hide from them.
The film's slow and trudging delivery also works well. The film carries such a degree of realism in the way it's shot and through the way the characters speak to each other through rather 'real' conversations, it's fascinating, in a way, to witness the murder scenes when they do eventually come along as you do get the feeling the film is building to something and they are it. Also, the way in which these are shot is highly effective Christie talks to the victims in a calm and logistical way; convincing them it'll be alright and for a time, it seems like it will be; it's only when they start struggling after realising something's wrong that the tension really begins and the build up pays off.
When the film finishes its little first chapter which is dominated by realistic dialogue, fabulous cinematography and a blinding performance from Attenborough as Christie; it then goes down another route which brings the character of Evans more into play. The second part of the film utilises methods more akin to a psychological thriller or horror as Christie very cleverly plays Evans off against, well, himself. Not only this but Christie's evilness and seeming invincibility is only emphasised further when he manages to squeeze his way out of most jams.
If the film has a flaw it's because as it wears on; tension is relaxed and atmosphere is consequently deflated. The film remains dark, brooding and there is definitely an uneasy feeling as you watch some later scenes which I'm sure you know of yet I shall not spoil but the predictability that it was at the time regarding 'bad guys' and 'justice' is followed through in a rather easy and unsatisfying manner although the film DID stick true to what happened in real life.
I think 10 Rillington Place is one of those films that will remain etched into British film and into film in general as if there was ever a template to somehow work around when making a thriller/horror like this one, 10 Rillington Place is perhaps the first place you'd look.
I think 10 Rillington Place is a film that really sets some sort of a new benchmark in both the thriller and horror genre. It creates a definitive 'world' in which the film can take place a world which seems very real and is put across through thanks to feelings that anything could happen and that anybody could run into anybody; this creates a very unpredictable and uncomfortable atmosphere, especially if you're like me and you didn't know the full story about the real life events of John Christie.
The film is also shot in a way that makes it look very grimy and very bleak London in the 1940s and 50s is a perfect setting as run down houses and depressing to look at streets litter the exterior shots of the film when murder is in the air. This changes somewhat when Timothy Evans (Hurt) ends up in the country due to certain events as we're then presented with grass, hills and all things nice but the exterior shots of the countryside are limited in their presentation as although he's a million miles from the murders, he can't hide from them.
The film's slow and trudging delivery also works well. The film carries such a degree of realism in the way it's shot and through the way the characters speak to each other through rather 'real' conversations, it's fascinating, in a way, to witness the murder scenes when they do eventually come along as you do get the feeling the film is building to something and they are it. Also, the way in which these are shot is highly effective Christie talks to the victims in a calm and logistical way; convincing them it'll be alright and for a time, it seems like it will be; it's only when they start struggling after realising something's wrong that the tension really begins and the build up pays off.
When the film finishes its little first chapter which is dominated by realistic dialogue, fabulous cinematography and a blinding performance from Attenborough as Christie; it then goes down another route which brings the character of Evans more into play. The second part of the film utilises methods more akin to a psychological thriller or horror as Christie very cleverly plays Evans off against, well, himself. Not only this but Christie's evilness and seeming invincibility is only emphasised further when he manages to squeeze his way out of most jams.
If the film has a flaw it's because as it wears on; tension is relaxed and atmosphere is consequently deflated. The film remains dark, brooding and there is definitely an uneasy feeling as you watch some later scenes which I'm sure you know of yet I shall not spoil but the predictability that it was at the time regarding 'bad guys' and 'justice' is followed through in a rather easy and unsatisfying manner although the film DID stick true to what happened in real life.
I think 10 Rillington Place is one of those films that will remain etched into British film and into film in general as if there was ever a template to somehow work around when making a thriller/horror like this one, 10 Rillington Place is perhaps the first place you'd look.