MovieChat Forums > Cape Fear (1962) Discussion > Most suspenseful/thrilling of its era...

Most suspenseful/thrilling of its era?

posted 12 years ago by bassplace88
6 replies | jump to latest

I felt Cape Fear was creepy, tense, suspenseful and thrilling througout making great use of sound, atmosphere and lighting. The "man" following Nancy at the school, the motor boat approaching the houseboat, the hanging moss(?) around Cape Fear, dark shadows and haunting muscial score, combine with Cady's intellgent and relentless pursuit for revenge to create perhaps the most thrilling movie to date.

Hitchcock's Psycho, made two years earlier, is the only other movie that I feel could compete for this honor.

Anybody have any suggestions on a more tense or thrilling movie up through 1962?

[–] DracTarashV 12 years ago

Carnival of Souls from 1962. It's not a great film like Cape Fear or Psycho, but the suspense and creepy factor surpasses both of these classics, in my opinion. Personally I find it the most chilling film from the era; very eerie. But I guess it's fair to point out that this film is built upon supernatural and ghost elements, as oppose to the "reality" feel of Cape Fear and Psycho.

Experiment In Terror (1962!) is a good, straightforward thriller with lots of suspense. Parts of it, especially the first half hour, reminded me of Cape Fear.

Dennis: I swallowed some apple seeds today.
Mac: Did you make yourself throw up?

[–] armanmarok 11 years ago

That honor belongs to Eyes Without A Face (1960) by Georges Franju.

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The darker the shadow, the more radiant the light it beams.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] wilky37 10 years ago

I enjoyed this movie, but I wouldn't even call it the best suspense/thriller of its own year (The Manchurian Candidate).

[–] kindheart02 9 years ago

I agree, "Experiment in Terror" was a personal fave of mine, along with Doris Day and Rex Harrison in "Midnight Lace"

[–] Dan_Garten 8 years ago

Cool.