M (1931)

M is a revolutionary movie due to its use of novel cinematic techniques and multi-faceted depiction of an incredibly evil man. The movie oozes a dreadful paranoia through its use of empty space and dynamic movement. Lang succeeds in manipulating memory to draw out automatic reactions; the whistle that Hans Beckert whistles prior to killing his victims, the balloon that is left crumpled on the floor, the ball rolling which leaves your stomach in a pit. Yet, even when exploring the deepest recesses of an addled mind, Lang reveals a disconnected compulsion that assigns a subtle ambiguity to the hysteria of the public. It is a hysteria that is violent and infectious, promoting a mob mentality which eschews any form of nuanced thinking. It reflects our natural tendency to throw out perspicacity when confronted with forces of evil. Lang therefore asks us to choose between this reflexive tendency or a justice system whose egalitarian and empirical practice of jurisprudence lead to unsatisfactory results.