The Wages of Fear Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: The Wages of Fear
Year: 1953
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Country: France
Language: French  

Born on Nov 20, 1907 in Niort, France Henri-Georges Clouzot would eventually become a master Director of psychological thrillers, often a rival to British-born Alfred Hitchcock. Though unfortunately due to the Nazi occupation of France and his continuous ill health throughout his career, Clouzot was never able to match Hitchcock in the output of films. Even though he has only directed 19 films before his death in 1977, they were all pretty excellent, one of his best being 1953's The Wages of Fear. 

Set in the South American jungle, it seems that  supplies of nitroglycerin are needed at a remote oil field. The oil company pays four men to deliver the supplies in two trucks. A tense rivalry develops between the two sets of drivers where on the rough remote roads even the slightest bump can result in an explosive death.

 You might want to check with your doctor before seeing this film, because The Wages of Fear is not for the weak of heart or those prone to fainting. Clouzot's picture is one of the most pulse pounding, suspenseful and claustrophobic spectaculars that you will ever witness. It's gritty, atmospheric and thrives on realism. The lighting greatly contributes to the shocking quality of each eerie visual. The fact that Clouzot is able to squeeze suspense out of the most simple scenes is absolutely remarkable. 

The Wages of Fear is essentially a warning about the dangers of ambition, greed and capitalism. It examines how workers will risk their entire lives for a wage, and how the owners are ready to exploit them. We are also shown the dangers of financial competition, how replaceable the working poor are and how a blind lust for money can ultimately lead to doom. It's a Marxist film right down to the core.

In conclusion, The Wages of Fear is a remarkable riveting film with the sheer force of an atomic bomb. It's as captivating as it is tense. Clouzot makes the characters multi-dimensional so we care about their fragile lives, and it adds to an already great experience. This is possibly one of the greatest films ever made. Praise it! 5/5