The Spiral Staircase – Review

Based on a novel, The Spiral Staircase is a psychological thriller featuring murder and mystery. Opening in a silent picture movie house, a projectionist whirls the film while a pianist plays the soundtrack. Helen (McGuire) sits in tense observation of the screen. Meanwhile, a girl is murdered in the rooms above the theater by a stranger who has snuck into her closet. It is creepy as hell.

The local Constable (Bell) notes that this is another in a string of murders plaguing the community. A serial killer is on the loose strangling women. Helen herself is mute, and is told she needs to get safely home. Dr. Parry (Smith) hits the crime scene in order to help find clues but nothing sticks out. Dr. Parry gets Helen into his carriage to get her home, as they have a past.

After Dr. Parry drops her by the roadside to go to an urgent patient, Helen works her way through the woods home and the clouds above begin to pour rain and roar with thunder. Helen lives in a large house with a bedridden woman Mrs. Warren (Barrymore), and her son Steven Warren (Oliver) who is back from Europe, her stepson Professor Albert Warren (Brent), his secretary Blanche (Fleming), and multiple staff to help the family, such as Mrs. Oates (Lanchester). Helen herself works with the Professor as an aid. As the full house braces for the ongoing storm and potential killer on the loose, danger is in the air.

The Spiral Staircase is a solid murder mystery and creepy serial killer film. With a limited set and only a few in the cast, it is a claustrophobic time full of tension and suspense. The actors are solid such as the crotchety bitch-fest in Mrs. Warren and Helen, who must deliver her emotions fully through body movement and facial reactions, as she has no dialogue.

The film is a nice mix of crime, mystery and drama, and features a short runtime. The script is sharp enough and features a decent story overall. The director unfolds the tale with his long-time experience, having pumped out multiple films a year in the decade+ prior to this one. The Spiral Staircase remains a quality film today, despite its older setting.

This film has been remade several times, but I have seen none of them.