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Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows

2007·Movie
1h 17min·NR
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Rotten Tomatoes100%83%
IMDb7.4Rotten Tomatoes100%83%

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Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, a touch of humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension5
  • Scare5
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Nostalgic and moving

  • Nostalgia8
  • Pathos7
  • Hopefulness7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Satire & Parody2

World

History, a real life story, and show business

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The story behind the master of psychological terror.

Martin Scorsese narrates this tribute to Val Lewton, the producer of a series of memorable low-budget horror films for RKO Studios. Raised by his mother and his aunt, his films often included strong female characters who find themselves in difficult situations and who have to grow up quickly. He is best remembered for the horror films he made at RKO starting in 1940. Starting with only a title - his first was The Cat People - he would meticulously oversee every aspect of the film's completion. Although categorized as horror films, his films never showed a monster, leaving it all to the viewers imagination, assisted by music, mood and lighting.
Biographical DocumentaryHorror Film HistoryRKO StudiosFilm Noir InfluenceLow-Budget FilmmakingPsychological HorrorBehind-the-ScenesNostalgicClassic Horror

Crew

Directed by:
Kent Jones
Written by:
Kent Jones
Produced by:
Martin Scorsese, Margaret Bodde, Mikaela Beardsley

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88/100 (IMDb 7.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows rated?

NR

It's rated NR in the United States.

How long is Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows?

1 h 17 min

Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows runs 1 h 17 min.

Is Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows?

Critics100
Audiences79

Not quite. Critics rate Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows higher (100) than audiences (79). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows in?

EnglishFrenchJapanese

It was made in English, with some French, Japanese. Produced in United States.