Condemned to Death: Old School Creepiness

Is it worth your time?

If you like those old British mysteries that smell like tweed and damp cellars, sure, give it a go. It’s short, it’s moody, and it has that very specific 1930s stiffness that I find strangely comforting. If you need fast pacing or modern camera tricks, though, you’ll be bored out of your mind in ten minutes. 🎞️

The whole premise is honestly a bit ridiculous. A guy on death row turning a judge into a puppet? It’s pure pulp, but the actors lean into it with such conviction you almost buy it. You can tell they’re having a bit of fun with the darker elements.

The vibe

There is this one scene in the courtroom that just lingers way too long on the judge’s face. You can see the gears turning in his eyes, or maybe he just forgot his next line for a second. It feels like the director just let the camera roll until someone remembered to yell cut.

It’s not as intense as The Fatal Sign, but it’s got a weird, rhythmic quality to it. Some of the dialogue is so crisp it sounds like they’re reading off a dinner menu. I kind of loved that, honestly.

• Gordon Harker is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.
• The lighting in the prison cells is surprisingly moody.
• I swear I saw the same background extra twice in the same scene.

Random thoughts

The hypnotism stuff is played so straight. In modern movies, they'd use weird sound effects and wavy lenses. Here, it’s just a guy staring really hard at another guy. It’s almost more unsettling that way.

It’s not trying to be high art, and that’s why it works. It’s just a solid, slightly dusty story. If you’re looking for something that feels like a relic you found in an attic, this fits the bill. It’s certainly more grounded than the chaotic energy in La brigade du bruit.

Anyway, don't expect a masterpiece. Just expect a decent way to kill an hour on a rainy Tuesday. ☔