The Lodger (1944)

In the chilling shadows of Victorian London, a menacing phantom known as Jack the Ripper lurks, preying on actresses under the cloak of night. Amid the terror, the financially strained Bonting family, led by the resilient Mrs. Bonting and her discontented husband, find themselves reluctantly opening their home to a lodger. A peculiar young man named Mr. Slade emerges from the gloom, offering a generous sum to rent a room and the attic, a proposition that seems to be a godsend for the struggling family. However, the eccentricities of Mr. Slade are as conspicuous as they are disconcerting. He fills his days and nights with enigmatic scientific experiments, kindling fires in the attic, and roaming the city at odd hours. His peculiar animosity towards actresses is as peculiar as it is alarming—despite adorning his room with their portraits, he swiftly turns them to face the wall, as if repulsed by their gaze. Adding to the palpable tension is the presence of Mrs. Bonting's beautiful niece, a charming music-hall actress residing in the same house. As the Ripper's victims all share a haunting connection to the stage, the young woman's profession makes her a potential target, escalating the family’s fear and suspicion. As the horrifying murders continue, the line between paranoia and reality blurs. Mr. Slade's mysterious habits and the simultaneous dread of the Ripper’s unknown identity intertwine, casting a sinister shadow over the Bonting household. The Lodger spins a web of suspense, turning a desperate act of financial relief into a harrowing game of cat and mouse, leaving the family, and the audience, questioning whether they have invited evil into their home.

The Lodger is a crime movie featuring Merle Oberon and directed by John Brahm.

The Lodger is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.