The Criterion Voyages (Spine #58): PEEPING TOM -- A Horror Classic Restored in Glorious 4K

By Sean Boelman

Armageddon and Deep Impact; Volcano and Dante’s Peak; No Strings Attached and Friends With Benefits; Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down. History has seen numerous times that Hollywood will release two similar movies in the same year. However, few cases are as interesting as Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom from 1960, recently released in 4K for the first time by the Criterion Collection.

The main reason why Peeping Tom is such an interesting specimen in this regard is that it’s held in nearly as high of a regard as its peer, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Of course, Psycho is considered almost across the board to be the better film, and rightfully so, but in many ways, Powell’s movie has left just as indelible of a mark on horror cinema as Hitchcock’s masterpiece.

Peeping Tom follows a young man who is a photographer by day and a serial killer by night, using his camera as his weapon to murder unsuspecting women and capture it on film to make a “documentary” about fear. It’s an early manifestation of slasher tropes, albeit in the restraints of the Hays Code era, making it an essential piece of horror cinema history.

One of the biggest merits of Peeping Tom is Carl Boehm’s performance in the lead role, which is as menacing as they come. It’s almost scarier to have a character like this who thinks he’s acting with reason, unlike some of the later horror villains that would come along and are purely maniacal and evil.

The other aspect of Peeping Tom that has earned it praise over the years is its visual style. The sequences shot from the POV of the protagonist’s camera’s viewfinder have been done over and over again, and seeing the source of the reference is fantastic. However, the many ways Powell creates suspense despite the limitations of what he can show are certainly a sight to see.

Several of today’s most iconic filmmakers have been influenced by Peeping Tom, from the obvious, like Brian De Palma, to some for whom the influence is more subtle, like Edgar Wright. For further proof of just how many artists Peeping Tom has influenced, look no further than the bonus features on this disc, which include an introduction by Martin Scorsese, an interview with Thelma Schoonmaker, and a making-of documentary featuring the duo along with Boehm. 

Even beyond that, this Criterion Collection edition of Peeping Tom is a veritable wealth of riches for cinephiles. In addition to the aforementioned bonus features, the release includes two audio commentary tracks from film scholars, a documentary about screenwriter Leo Marks, and a featurette on the film’s restoration, which, mind you, looks absolutely stunning. 

Peeping Tom is an influential work of classic horror cinema, and this Criterion Collection edition is certainly worth picking up. Although this isn’t one of the more obscure or difficult-to-find titles to enter the fray, the gorgeous restoration and wealth of bonus features make it more than worth adding to your shelf.

The Criterion Collection edition of Peeping Tom is now available.