Unexpected classic

I'd never heard of this movie, and the opening 10 minutes didn't bode well. Sure enough, an inobtrusive hero picks up a sinister shadowy figure (Rutger Hauer - the Guinness guy), and stilted dialogue doesn't create much anticipation.

However there's only one actual 'hitch' (no pun intended) in the film and yet the plot roars along from one turn to the next, always with the captivating Hauer (in a style that anticipates Hopkins in the Hannibal series) seeming to outmaneouvre our lovable hero.

Though generally more Thriller than Horror there are a couple of really gruesome moments so be warned.

Two truly memorable scenes (the finger and the lock) and some OK bonus commentaries are the icing on the cake for this thoroughly enjoyable movie.