‘Peeping Tom (Criterion Collection)’ 4K UHD Review

Stars: Karlheinz Bohm, Maxine Audley, Anna Massey, Moira Shearer, Brenda Bruce, Esmond Knight, Martin Miller, Michael Goodliffe, Jack Watson, Shirley Anne Field | Written by Leo Marks | Directed by Michael Powell

Originally released 64 years ago (!) and a Martin Scorsese favourite, Peeping Tom has already had a UK release from StudioCanal, with a print restored in association with The Film Foundation and the BFI National Archive; and now comes another release, this time in the US courtesy of the Criterion Collection.

My immediate reaction, almost from the opening scene is that for a film that was made so long ago, it has aged extremely well and I imagine it might have seemed quite shocking at the time.

That does seem to be the case as “on its initial release in 1960, Peeping Tom received a savage reception from critics who were dismayed by its controversial subject matter and the sympathy it seems to engender for its murderous protagonist.” It then remained unavailable for many years but is thankfully much celebrated now, and it’s clear to see it has some influence on the start of the slasher genre.

Simply put, Peeping Tom is a film about a young man, a voyeur, who becomes obsessed with filming the final moments of women as he murders them. Even now, so many years later, I think that sounds like a pretty cool and original idea. As expected, the use of that ‘final’ shot in each murder is shown in a kind POV-style but it doesn’t feel gimmicky at all and is certainly not overkill. It feels like something interesting and fresh to add to the film.

Modern horror fans might not even see Peeping Tom as a horror movie but it is clear to see similarities with Psycho (released in the same year) and the influence it had on future releases such as Black Christmas. The absence of any real blood and gore may be jarring for those used to that but otherwise it works on all other aspects of a genre movie.

Karlheinz Bohm is fantastic in the lead role. Clearly attractive and charismatic enough to make it believable that these women enjoyed his company despite his slightly unnerving presence and occasional odd behaviour. In another era he would have become a huge star. And with the character’s back story you have a really interesting reason to have your audience sympathise for a murderer. Something so ahead of its time.

There’s a blind character (the lead’s main love interest’s mother), which, while at times pushes on believability, is a great character and performance (Maxine Audley).

There’s a little bit of comedy, mainly in scenes involving the (storyline) director but it never overshadows the darker parts of the script and the only parts which feel dated can’t be helped – the dialogue is often very of its time. But overall, Peeping Tom is a fantastic movie and it feels like you’re watching a little bit of cinematic history. The restoration is absolutely fantastic. From the opening shot to the last, you can see the effort that has been put into this release and it looks phenomenal. Horror fans should definitely be checking this release out.

Special Edition 4K/Blu-ray Features:

• New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Two audio commentaries, one featuring film historian Ian Christie and one featuring film scholar Laura Mulvey
• Introduction by filmmaker Martin Scorsese
• Interview with editor Thelma Schoonmaker
• Documentary about the film’s history, featuring interviews with Schoonmaker, Scorsese, and actor Carl Boehm
• Documentary about screenwriter Leo Marks
• Program on the film’s restoration
• Trailer
• PLUS: An essay by author Megan Abbott

Peeping Tom is released on Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Special Editon today, Tuesday, 14th May.