- Directed by Joseph H. Lewis, So Dark the Night is a truly odd murder mystery that pits a noble French detective named Cassin (Steven Geray) against a serial killer who operates from the shadows. The killer's first victim is a young woman named Nanette (Micheline Cheirel) with whom Cassin had fallen in love over the protestations of her volatile boyfriend, Leon (Paul Marion). But then, Leon himself is found dead. Followed by Nanette's mother (Ann Codee). If you think we're running out of reasonable suspects, you're absolutely correct.
- Which brings us to the major problem with So Dark the Night, namely that the audience could not possibly discern the completely unforeshadowed identity of the killer before the film's big reveal. That's all well and good for a potboiler, but puzzlers starring more traditional detectives should be held to a different standard. This is especially disappointing coming from Lewis, who directed one of the best films noirs (The Big Combo) and one of the best heist films (Gun Crazy). Combine those two titles and you end up with The Big Crazy, which would have been a more fitting title for this one than So Dark the Night.
