M (1931)

M (M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder) is a black‑and‑white 1931 German crime thriller about a city paralyzed by a string of child murders. As panic and suspicion spread, the police struggle to find the unseen perpetrator while the local criminal underworld—whose operations are being disrupted by the heavy-handed manhunt—forms its own hunt, enlisting beggars and street people to help track him down. The story follows the tense race to identify and capture the killer and culminates in a chilling, unofficial “trial” that forces the city to confront questions of guilt, justice and mob mentality. Watching M is a visceral experience: Fritz Lang’s direction and early sound design turn small details (notably the killer’s whistled motif of Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King”) into unforgettable, hair‑raising cues. The film balances procedural suspense with a psychological portrait of the murderer, anchored by a haunting performance that elicits both revulsion and a disturbing hint of pity. Expressionist lighting, cramped urban locations and breathless crowd scenes create an atmosphere of claustrophobia and moral unease. Expect a tense, morally complex thriller rather than simple catharsis. M is as much social critique as it is a crime story—exploring how fear distorts justice and how society responds when law and order fail. It’s historically important (an early sound masterpiece) and emotionally affecting: unsettling, thought‑provoking and memorable long after the credits roll.

Actors: Peter Lorre, Ellen Widmann, Inge Landgut

Director: Fritz Lang

Runtime: 117 min

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

8.3 /10 8.3 /10 8.3 /10