What it’s about
Charlie Oakley (Cotten) is an attractive, seemingly mild-mannered young man with a horrific hidden side who decides, for reasons which soon become evident, to pay his older sister’s family an extended visit in scenic, wholesome Santa Rosa, California. Though dear Uncle Charlie has always doted on his lively young niece and namesake Charlie (Wright), this time their closeness may put her in harm’s way.
Why we love it
Hitchcock shows us how close to home treachery may be found in “Shadow,” a subtle yet riveting psychological thriller about a small-town serial killer. The director himself considered this one of his finest achievements. Penned by playwright Thornton Wilder and based on the infamous “Merry Widow Killer” case, “Shadow” maintains a nerve-rattling mood of menace throughout. Highlighted by a chilling performance from Cotten, this film gives a diabolical new meaning to the adage: “You can’t pick your family.”