One Hour Photo Details

Following his understated role in Insomnia, funnyman Robin Williams put in another exquisitely straight performance in this psychological thriller. Almost unrecognisable behind a receding hairline and glasses, he is hauntingly moving as supermarket photo processor Sy Parrish, whose lonely existence feeds an escalating obsession with a glamorous local family. A simple yet effective reflection on modern society's fixation with so-called flawless lifestyles, it's meticulously composed and tautly executed. Each frame of this unnerving chiller is a visually stunning snapshot of an innocent world distorted by human complexities. Director Mark Romanek draws on his music video background of storytelling through imagery, by applying varying degrees of colour and contrast to reflect the positive and negative emotions on display. This slick technique adds extra force to Williams's remarkable turn, while padding out the occasionally stilted supporting roles. The result is a startling and deeply atmospheric film, made all the more powerful by its unexpected climax.

Creepy thriller of a voyeur that gets tightly contained performance from Williams as a man going over the edge of madness; the meticolous use of colour and space adds to its chilling quality.