gridoon2024 Review of Shadows in an Empty Room

Shadows in an Empty Room (1976)

Ultimately successful combination of action and mystery

[7/10 · 11 November 2010]

The first 30 or so minutes of "Shadows In An Empty Room" (or whichever title you see it under!) are nothing special, and with a tired-looking Stuart Whitman in the lead, I was preparing myself to give this a middling-to-negative review. Luckily, it finds its footing after a while (as bizarre as it sounds, the turning point is probably Whitman's fight with a bunch of transvestites!), and it ends up as an overall success. The second half contains a very long, expertly done car chase (supervised by the veteran at this sort of thing Remy Julienne) which, if this movie was better known, would be regarded as a classic on a par with "Bullitt", as well as a fun foot chase in a subway station. Whitman may look tired in this movie, but he's alert enough for the action scenes. The mystery plot also picks up its pace, as it heads towards its twisted and downbeat resolution which cleverly fools the viewer, especially by showing how a seemingly innocent victim was not so innocent after all. There are also some tense, giallo-like scenes, mostly involving a blind woman, terrifically played by Mia Farrow's lovely sister, Tisa. Just stick with the film through its mediocre first half-hour, and you will be rewarded. *** out of 4.