Unbelievably unthrilling thriller. A British schoolboy is kidnapped and his secret agent dad searches for him.
The Black Windmill was directed by Don Siegel, who after Dirty Harry had built up a serious critical following as a film stylist. Critics looked back at his earlier films and found an interesting list that included, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Hell is for Heroes and Riot in Cell Block 11.
Of course for every Invasion of the Body Snatchers there was The Annapolis Story, Duel at Silver Creek and Count the Hours, films that will not get the Criterion treatment.
The film stars Michael Caine who somehow is now highly regarded as an actor. Caine won an Academy Award which gave him a lot of cred. A quick review of his career shows an actor who will stoop to any part for a paycheck witness, Gnomeo and Juliet, Austin Powers in Goldmember and The Muppet Christmas Carol. In The Black Windmill Caine must have really been in it for the money, he barely registers a performance and seems completely disengaged throughout the film.
Only Donald Pleasence seems to have any interest in the film playing Caine's boss the quirky head of a British intelligence unit.
This film is so lame that the windmill in The Black Windmill isn't even black.
106 minutes.
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