Blindspot (2008)

An effective way to visually enhance the stakes in a thriller is to compare the stark contrast between light and dark. As such, many moody mystery movies are shot in black-and-white — from The 39 Steps (1935) to What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962). In between, moviegoers flocked to the Hithcock flicks Rebecca (1940), Notorious (1946), Strangers on a Train (1951), and Psycho (1960). Since then we’ve seen The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) and Sin City (2005). Next came Blindspot (2008). While shot on color stock, the lack of saturation almost makes this flick look monochromatic. The story follows Theodore Quentzel (Johnny Melville), a no-nonsense guy who is sucked into a psychological web spun by two shady ladies. Claudia (Micky Hoogendijk) and Anya (Maike Moeller Bornstein) are on the run from their past. While Anya’s husband (Hugo Metsers) is on a business trip, she waits for her lover to warm up her bed. But when the cheating chick answers the knock on her door, she comes face-to-face with the gun-wielding Theodore, who overpowers her and straps her to a chair. Any other woman in this position would call 911 but Anya takes everything in stride and lets the situation play out. Turns out the restrained babe knows her attacker — he’s her psychiatrist! Now, that’s a twist we didn’t see coming. Speaking of coming, you may cream your jeans when you view Hugo’s naked chest and ebony buns 14 minutes into the movie. Let’s hear it for Metsers and Johnson!