Criminal at Large: A dusty mystery that mostly delivers

Is it worth your time?

If you have a thing for black-and-white houses that look like they haven't been dusted since the Victorian era, then yes. It's a solid Sunday afternoon watch for anyone who likes a classic "whodunnit" without needing it to be some revolutionary masterpiece. If you prefer fast-paced action or movies where people actually act like real humans, you're gonna hate the pacing here. It moves at the speed of a tired turtle.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Criminal at Large (1932) through its definitive frames.

The whole setup is so classic it hurts. A niece, a secretary, and a massive, gloomy mansion. You know the type. Every time someone walks into a room, I half-expected them to trip over a secret passage. It’s got that specific 1940s atmosphere where the fog seems to be following the characters inside the house. 🌫️

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Criminal at Large (1932) through its definitive frames.

Watching Emlyn Williams is a treat, though. He’s got this nervous energy that makes you wonder if he’s the killer or just had too much coffee before the scene. There’s a moment where he just stares at a mantlepiece for way too long. It’s weirdly hypnotic.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Criminal at Large (1932) through its definitive frames.

The deaths? They happen off-screen mostly, which is a shame because I wanted to see the villain's technique. You get the doctor, then the chauffeur, and it's all very polite and tidy. It makes me think of The Bat, which had a lot more bite to its shadows, even if the plots are cut from the same cloth.

Odd bits I noticed:

• The dialogue is so clipped it’s like they’re trying to save money on words.
• I swear the same chair shows up in three different rooms.
• The way the niece walks into danger is… well, it’s a choice.

The ending is a bit of a scramble. It feels like they realized they only had five minutes of film left and decided to just shout the reveal at the audience. Not the most graceful landing, but it works. 🤷‍♂️

It’s not as gritty as some of the later noir stuff, but it’s got enough charm to keep you from checking your phone every two minutes. Just don't look too hard at the lighting continuity, or you'll lose your mind. Some of the shadows just don't make any sense given where the lamps are.

Anyway, it’s a decent little relic. Keep your expectations low and the lights off.