The Woman Who Came Back

The Woman Who Came Back is a taut, thrilling mystery-horror from 1945 directed by Walter Colmes, and stars John Loder, Nancy Kelly, and Otto Kruger. It's a gripping journey into ancient curses and the supernatural, with haunt and suspense brimming beneath an everyday quiet town veneer.

In the heart of this tense tale is a mesmerizing performance from Nancy Kelly as Lorna Webster. After returning to her small, close-knit community following a decade in the big city, she hopes to find solace and reconnecting with old friends. Beside her for support is her fiancé, Dr. Matt Adams, portrayed by John Loder. Adams is not just a pillar of love for Lorna, but also a symbol of stability in the increasingly unstable setting of their hometown.

However, Lorna's homecoming is not the smooth transition she hopes for. Her troubles begin when she barely survives a bus accident while journeying back home. Every other passenger, including an old woman feared as a witch by the locals, perishes in the accident. The elderly woman had inadvertently shared with Lorna some cryptic remarks about an ancient curse shortly before their vehicle plummeted.

Shaken, Lorna returns home, but the terror doesn't stop there. Ravens, historically associated with omens and the supernatural, begin to flock to Lorna, reinforcing the eeriness. Things spiral into mayhem as incidents of bad luck and misfortune strike the town, leading residents to believe that a curse might be among them. The peaceful, idyllic town is rooted out of its regularity, coping with one unsettling incident after the other.

The crowd, growing ever fearful and suspicious, begins to harbor belief that Lorna may be the manifestation of the fabled curse. Lorna herself wrestles with mounting paranoia and fear as she battles self-doubt about whether she might indeed be the cursed one, as the townsfolk believe.

Essential to the narrative is the intersecting dynamic between Lorna, Dr. Matt Adams, and the town's Reverend, played by Otto Kruger. The Reverend's character serves as an intriguing counterpoint to Dr. Adams. While the doctor represents rationality and the scientific approach, trying to debunk the myth of the curse, the Reverend walks the spiritual path, opting for a more faith-anchored resolution to the unfolding disturbances.

Nancy Kelly's performance as Lorna successfully translates the fragility and terror experienced by her character on the screen. John Loder as Dr. Adams ensures an enduring rational perspective and serves up a sturdy performance, while Otto Kruger's Reverend provides spiritual contrasts to Adams' scientific stance.

The Woman Who Came Back's hauntingly beautiful black-and-white cinematography paired with its suspenseful, stirring score works wonderfully to keep the audience on edge. The film has an underlying theme of exploring mass hysteria, superstition versus science, and the impact of psychological torment — issues as relevant today as they were when the film was released in 1945.

The movie, despite being in the horror genre, doesn't rely heavily on unrealistic special effects, which shows off the strong performances and the screenplay's robust depth.

The Woman Who Came Back is a compelling watch for seasoned film noir enthusiasts and those interested in classic horror stories — a sophisticated blend of mystery, horror, and psychological thrills all set against the beautifully tense backdrop of a close-knit community.

From its captivating beginning through to its tension-ridden climax, The Woman Who Came Back has solidified its place in film history as a classic, often overlooked gem of mid-1940s horror. The expert rendering of suspense, top-notch performances from the lead cast, and the clever intertwining of the rational and the supernatural make this movie a must-watch for fans of the genre.