Juggernaut: Boris Karloff being classic, but maybe a bit stiff

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you're a die-hard Boris Karloff completionist. If you want a fast-paced thriller, you'll probably hate this. It moves like molasses in winter. If you like 1930s British crime stuff, you might find it charming in a dusty, forgotten-attic sort of way.

There's a scene near the middle where they just talk in a parlor for what feels like an eternity. I checked my phone twice. It’s not that the acting is bad, it’s just… very polite. Everyone is so stiff.

The Karloff Factor

Karloff is doing his thing. He’s got that voice, that specific way of looking over his spectacles that makes you think, 'Yeah, this guy is definitely going to poison someone.' But the script feels like it’s holding him back. He’s stuck in a plot that is basically a Murder on a Honeymoon knockoff without the fun bits.

It’s funny to see him try to be a mastermind when the movie clearly didn't have the budget to show anything actually exciting. The 'juggernaut' part of the title? I'm still trying to find where that shows up. Maybe I blinked and missed it. 🧐

Odd bits and pieces

• The wife character is so obviously evil that I’m surprised the husband didn't figure it out in the first five minutes.
• The lighting in the doctor's office looks like they used one single candle. It's moody, sure, but you can't see anyone's face half the time.
• There's a weirdly long shot of a telephone that serves absolutely no narrative purpose.
• Reminded me a bit of the atmosphere in The Stranger, though much less polished.

There is a distinct lack of stakes here. You know exactly what’s going to happen. The movie doesn't even try to hide the twist, which is kind of refreshing in a way? Like, it just says, 'Here is the plot, watch us get there very, very slowly.' It’s almost brave.

I found myself comparing it to Flying Down to Rio, which is a wild thought because they couldn't be more different. But sometimes you want the glitz, and sometimes you get stuck in a room with a guy who wants your inheritance. I know which one I'd prefer.

Don't expect a masterpiece. Expect a rainy Tuesday afternoon movie that you can talk over without feeling guilty. ☕