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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Thunder Below remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like Pre-Code cinema and want to watch Tallulah Bankhead just absolutely own the screen, then yes, this is for you. If you need a movie that makes logical sense or moves at a pace faster than a slow-moving river, you are going to be bored to tears. It’s a humid, sticky little drama that feels like it’s struggling to breathe.
The whole thing is set in Africa, or at least the Hollywood backlot version of it. There is so much sweating. I don’t think a single character goes a scene without dabbing their forehead with a handkerchief. It’s almost impressive how much they committed to the heat.
Bankhead is the center of everything, and she’s great. She has this way of looking at the camera like she’s bored with the script but committed to the paycheck. It’s magnetic. She makes the two leads—Charles Bickford and Paul Lukas—look like they’re just scenery she’s rearranging.
The plot is a classic, if a bit tired, triangle. Husband, wife, and the best friend who hangs around way too much. There’s a moment where they’re all just sitting there, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a dull knife. It’s the kind of scene that goes on for an extra minute just to make you feel as uncomfortable as they look.
Speaking of uncomfortable, there’s an awkward bit of dialogue involving a native dance that really hasn't aged well. It’s one of those moments where you just stare at your shoes and wait for the scene to change. It’s a stark reminder that even the older films we love can have some real clunkers in the script.
I found myself comparing it to the mood in People on Sunday, though they are obviously totally different animals. One is about the rhythm of a city, while Thunder Below is about the slow rot of a relationship in the middle of nowhere. Both have a certain texture to them that feels very specific to the era.
It’s not a masterpiece, and it definitely isn't trying to be. It’s just a moody, dramatic mess of a film that works because the people in it are interesting to watch. Sometimes that’s enough. I don’t need it to change my life, I just need it to hold my attention for 70 minutes. Thunder Below manages that, mostly because you’re waiting to see what Tallulah does next. 🌴
IMDb 6
1925
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