A mild movie that utilizes the trope of flashback. We are clearly seeing flashback being established as a film noir pattern; start the story towards the end with the character on their way out then tell the story from the beginning and jump back to the present at the end again. This is a routine storytelling device at this point that will become the staple structure for Film Noir.
The lighting is less drastic in this piece. There is not as much intense shadow next to light nor the shadows of blinds cutting across the set. The story is definitely riveting, although it feels sped up a lot. The pace at which people interact in this time period is notable for its urgency. There is very little nuance to the behaviors and interactions.
This film is listed as a B movie in the 1001 list that makes sense to me. It feels like a B Movie. The allure of the B Movie, cutting down the production, boiling down the elements to just the psychological thrill of the story that’s what this film does beautifully. Using very few frills it makes a highly compelling film. That's the hallmark of a great B movie.