The initial atmosphere and visuals create a strong sense of anticipation, but the narrative’s progression ultimately feels underwhelming. Henry Fonda portrays “Joe,” a war veteran returning home to find things significantly altered. He discovers his sweetheart, “Jo Ann” (Barbara Bel Geddes), hadn't been entirely forthcoming about her connection with the unpleasant magician “Max” (Vincent Price). Furthermore, “Charlene” (Ann Dvorak), his former assistant, is not unfamiliar to him. The story unfolds through flashbacks, revealing that "Joe" is hiding in a bullet-ridden apartment and has taken a life. The mystery lies in identifying the victim and the motive behind the act. While Fonda delivers a solid performance, and the female actors are pleasant, the narrative falters. Price seems to have been given the most interesting part, but his portrayal feels exaggerated, diminishing any suspense generated by the flashbacks and substituting it with a rather straightforward love-triangle drama. The film draws from a more complex story by Jacques Viot—one that lacks the war theme and doesn’t explore psychological distress—and consequently, the characters in this version lack the depth and intensity present in the original material. "Joe's" actions are almost excused due to his past trauma in France. Regrettably, after an initially promising and shadowy beginning, the film arrives at a predictable resolution that offers very little surprise.

Source on TMDB