Surprisingly, for a movie that runs for only 78 minutes, "The Killer Is Loose" features a bank robbery, a jailbreak and a manhunt as well as a series of murders, a home invasion and a stalking sequence before eventually reaching its tense climax. More importantly though, it's a well-written revenge thriller that does a particularly good job of explaining the reasons for the killer's psychosis and by doing so with great pace and clarity, ensures that the story's excitement, suspense and enjoyment are all kept at a high level from start to finish.
One day, when he's carrying out his routine duties, bank teller Leon "Foggy" Poole (Wendell Corey) is confronted by his old Army sergeant Otto Flanders (John Larch) and immediately feels uncomfortable because this man habitually used to ridicule him when they served together in the South Pacific and unkindly named him "Foggy" because of his poor eyesight. Before they can become fully reacquainted, however, it becomes evident that the bank is being robbed and as the thieves make their escape, Poole is injured after trying to stop one of them from getting away.
Shortly after, when LAPD Detective Lieutenant Sam Wagner (Joseph Cotten) is investigating, he quickly recognises that Poole was actually an accomplice to the heist and with a few of his colleagues, goes to the bank teller's apartment to arrest him. Unfortunately, whilst in the process of doing this, Wagner unintentionally shoots and kills Poole's wife.
Poole, who's devastated by his wife's death, is sent to prison for his crimes and becomes determined to take revenge by killing Wagner's wife, Lila (Rhonda Fleming). After a two and a half year period of exemplary behaviour, Poole is transferred to the state honour farm and uses the opportunity to affect his escape by killing one of the guards. He then also kills a neighbouring farmer so that he can use the man's truck and clothes to make his getaway without being recognised.
On hearing about Poole's escape, Wagner attempts to protect his now pregnant wife from any anxiety or danger by moving her out of their house temporarily and staying there himself in the hope that the killer will come looking for Lila and be apprehended by the police officers who are keeping his home under constant surveillance. Poole's progress is delayed by the various roadblocks that he has to contend with and after becoming tired and hungry, he makes his way to Otto's house where he terrorises his old sergeant's wife and demands to be fed. When Otto comes home, Poole kills him before continuing with his mission. Detective Wagner's plan seems to be working well until Lila fully realises what's going on and puts herself in danger by heading home to be with her husband.
Despite its modest budget, this movie features a good cast of actors whose performances more than adequately meets the requirements of their various roles. Wendell Corey, however, is exceptional as the soft-spoken killer who's quietly terrifying at times but is also quite vulnerable in certain ways because of the humiliation that he'd been subjected to in his life and the cruel way in which he'd lost the only person who'd never ridiculed him. The way in which Corey makes his psychopathic character's various qualities credible is tremendously subtle, well-balanced and totally convincing and also one of the most powerful reasons for watching this fine movie.
One day, when he's carrying out his routine duties, bank teller Leon "Foggy" Poole (Wendell Corey) is confronted by his old Army sergeant Otto Flanders (John Larch) and immediately feels uncomfortable because this man habitually used to ridicule him when they served together in the South Pacific and unkindly named him "Foggy" because of his poor eyesight. Before they can become fully reacquainted, however, it becomes evident that the bank is being robbed and as the thieves make their escape, Poole is injured after trying to stop one of them from getting away.
Shortly after, when LAPD Detective Lieutenant Sam Wagner (Joseph Cotten) is investigating, he quickly recognises that Poole was actually an accomplice to the heist and with a few of his colleagues, goes to the bank teller's apartment to arrest him. Unfortunately, whilst in the process of doing this, Wagner unintentionally shoots and kills Poole's wife.
Poole, who's devastated by his wife's death, is sent to prison for his crimes and becomes determined to take revenge by killing Wagner's wife, Lila (Rhonda Fleming). After a two and a half year period of exemplary behaviour, Poole is transferred to the state honour farm and uses the opportunity to affect his escape by killing one of the guards. He then also kills a neighbouring farmer so that he can use the man's truck and clothes to make his getaway without being recognised.
On hearing about Poole's escape, Wagner attempts to protect his now pregnant wife from any anxiety or danger by moving her out of their house temporarily and staying there himself in the hope that the killer will come looking for Lila and be apprehended by the police officers who are keeping his home under constant surveillance. Poole's progress is delayed by the various roadblocks that he has to contend with and after becoming tired and hungry, he makes his way to Otto's house where he terrorises his old sergeant's wife and demands to be fed. When Otto comes home, Poole kills him before continuing with his mission. Detective Wagner's plan seems to be working well until Lila fully realises what's going on and puts herself in danger by heading home to be with her husband.
Despite its modest budget, this movie features a good cast of actors whose performances more than adequately meets the requirements of their various roles. Wendell Corey, however, is exceptional as the soft-spoken killer who's quietly terrifying at times but is also quite vulnerable in certain ways because of the humiliation that he'd been subjected to in his life and the cruel way in which he'd lost the only person who'd never ridiculed him. The way in which Corey makes his psychopathic character's various qualities credible is tremendously subtle, well-balanced and totally convincing and also one of the most powerful reasons for watching this fine movie.