That opening scene is a little gem of economy in setting up the story conflict. Note how expertly the script, acting, and direction set up the threat big, handsome Wayne (Erickson) poses to the average looking Eldon's (Balsam) ego and to his wife's (Crane) loyalties. Now Eldon has to prove himself against the bigger man; at the same time, he throws caution and everything else to the wind.
It's a straight drama. There's no horror or mystery, but the premise is compelling as we wonder how the conflict will turn out. The screenplay includes a couple of subtle ironies. However, I'm particularly impressed with Erickson's nicely nuanced egotist— my sympathies began to waver as a result. My only reservation is with an ending that appears to raise more questions than it answers. As a result, it didn't work very well for me. Nonetheless, there's enough trademark suspense to keep you glued.
In passing-- According to IMDb, Balsam's appearance here was the basis for Hitchcock's casting him as the ill-fated detective Arbogast in the classic Psycho (1960).