“Wait Until Dark” is an original, clever, and exciting thriller that can be seen as the grandfather of the home invasion genre. It follows three gangsters, who try to con a blind woman to find smuggled drugs hidden in her apartment. For that, they make an elaborate plan, which involves a lot of roleplay and mind games.

The film is well-directed and beautifully filmed, and it makes great use of its one location setting. It also has an atmospheric score. Audrey Hepburn is amazing, showing vulnerability and fear as well as resourcefulness and bravery. She outsmarts criminals and looks lovely while doing it. If you only know Hepburn from romantic comedies, you should check this film out. The other standout is Alan Arkin as the creepy and menacing main villain. The confrontations of these two characters are the highlights of the movie

The plot is a bit contrived (I would just lock the door) and starts slow but the character interactions, mind games, and twists are fun to watch, and the patient buildup leads to a truly terrifying and intense climax that elevates the whole film. I especially love the use of darkness.

To conclude, “Wait Until Dark” is a great thriller with a fresh premise, strong performances, competent direction, a suspenseful finale, and a lot of oldschool charm. It´s not top-tier Alfred Hitchcock level, but you should have a good time with it.