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Wait Until Dark

Mystery & Thriller

RatingRatingRatingRatingRating4.8

DirectorTerence Young

ProducerMel Ferrer

ScreenwriterFrederick Knott, Robert Howard-Carrington, Jane Howard-Carrington

Release Date DateOct 26, 1967, Original

LanguageEnglish

Runtime1h 48m

Introduction

After a flight back home, Sam Hendrix (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) returns with a doll he innocently acquired along the way. As it turns out, the doll is actually stuffed with heroin, and a group of criminals led by the ruthless Roat (Alan Arkin) has followed Hendrix back to his place to retrieve it. When Hendrix leaves for business, the crooks make their move -- and find his blind wife, Susy (Audrey Hepburn), alone in the apartment. Soon, a life-threatening game begins between Susy and the thugs.

Critics Reviews

Dave Kehr4.5

446

Jun 18, 2019
"Wait Until Dark" is a taut 1967 thriller that captivates more through its inherently sadistic premise than its directional brilliance by Terence Young. The plot kicks off with Sam Hendrix (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) unwittingly bringing home a heroin-stuffed doll, attracting a band of criminals led by the menacing Roat (Alan Arkin). With Hendrix away, the thugs confront his blind wife, Susy (Audrey Hepburn), setting off a nerve-wracking, perilous game of cat-and-mouse. Hepburn's riveting performance and the claustrophobic setting elevate the tension, making this film a masterclass in psychological terror and suspense. It remains a gripping watch, drawing viewers into its dark, perilous world.

Eric Henderson4.9

491

Aug 11, 2003
"Wait Until Dark" is a gripping adaptation of Frederick Knott's suspenseful stage play. The film follows Susy Hendrix (Audrey Hepburn), a blind woman left alone in her apartment, as she becomes the target of a group of ruthless criminals led by the chilling Roat (Alan Arkin). They seek a doll stuffed with heroin, unknowingly brought home by her husband Sam (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.). Hepburn's performance is riveting, drawing viewers into a tense, life-threatening game that keeps them on the edge of their seats. Despite its gimmicky origins, the film masterfully amplifies the suspense, making for an unforgettable thriller.
Wait Until Dark
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