Although I still had plenty of unseen Woody Allen films to choose from, I really wanted for "Shadows and Fog" to be the next one in line. Why? Because, quite honestly, I never really liked Allen's style and humor and it's only since recently that I developed a new interest in his repertoire (since the discovery of the near-brilliant "Sleeper"). So, since I'm still quite skeptical towards his films, I specifically looked for the titles that feature as many of my personal favorite themes and topics as possible. The one and practically only option in that case was "Shadows and Fog". I'm a big fan of horror movies and "Shadows and Fog" deals with a serial strangler prowling the streets of a terrified city. I'm a sucker for old classics and "Shadows and Fog" just happens to be a downright tribute to the earliest years of cinema; particularly German Expressionist films and Gothic stories. I'm all into weird and taboo sub plots and "Shadows and Fog" features traveling circus freaks, shameless prostitutes and deranged vigilantes. I have tremendous respect for underrated genre actors and "Shadows and Fog" stars a whole bunch of them, like Donald Pleasance, Fred Gwynne, Kathy Bates, Daniel Von Bargen and many more. Basically, on paper "Shadows and Fog" could easily become my new favorite movie, but sadly Woody Allen only delivered a half- finished product.
Kleinman, an insignificant office clerk, is rudely woken up in the middle of the night by a bunch of overly obsessive neighbors. They formed a vigilante squad to hunt down a serial strangler and they insist Kleinman to also fulfill his part of the plan. Only Kleinman never has a clue what the plan is all about. Meanwhile, Irmy the cherubic female sword swallower of the traveling circus, which just happens to be in town, flees from her cheating husband and ends up wandering around in the dark and foggy streets of the city. The two encounter bizarre figures separately (like prostitutes, horny students, spooky doctors and lazy cops), before they meet each other and the killer. The atmosphere of the film is exact right. "Shadows and Fog" amazingly echoes the most vintage years of cinema, with clear references towards milestones like "M", "Freaks" and even Alfred Hitchcock's silent interpretation of the Jack the Ripper saga "The Lodger". The dialogs and humor are also quite subtle and witty, but the problem is that – at least in my humble opinion – the script doesn't fit the tone. Now, I know to expect comedy instead of frights with Woody Allen, but I can't erase the impression a better amalgamation was possible. Also, especially near the ending, the film feels rushed and becomes quite incoherent. All the beautiful and professional building up, including the re-creation of fog-enshrouded Gothic streets which allegedly cost nearly $20 million, all of a sudden feels so purposeless! A real shame.
Kleinman, an insignificant office clerk, is rudely woken up in the middle of the night by a bunch of overly obsessive neighbors. They formed a vigilante squad to hunt down a serial strangler and they insist Kleinman to also fulfill his part of the plan. Only Kleinman never has a clue what the plan is all about. Meanwhile, Irmy the cherubic female sword swallower of the traveling circus, which just happens to be in town, flees from her cheating husband and ends up wandering around in the dark and foggy streets of the city. The two encounter bizarre figures separately (like prostitutes, horny students, spooky doctors and lazy cops), before they meet each other and the killer. The atmosphere of the film is exact right. "Shadows and Fog" amazingly echoes the most vintage years of cinema, with clear references towards milestones like "M", "Freaks" and even Alfred Hitchcock's silent interpretation of the Jack the Ripper saga "The Lodger". The dialogs and humor are also quite subtle and witty, but the problem is that – at least in my humble opinion – the script doesn't fit the tone. Now, I know to expect comedy instead of frights with Woody Allen, but I can't erase the impression a better amalgamation was possible. Also, especially near the ending, the film feels rushed and becomes quite incoherent. All the beautiful and professional building up, including the re-creation of fog-enshrouded Gothic streets which allegedly cost nearly $20 million, all of a sudden feels so purposeless! A real shame.