“Robert Siodmak directed this modern horror classic in 1946; it has all the trappings of the genre--a stormy night and a collection of psychopaths in an old house--but the psychopaths are quite presentable people and this, plus the skillful, swift direction, makes the terror quite convincing. Dorothy McGuire is excellent as the threatened mute servant.” (Pauline Kael) "The Spiral Staircase is a film of pure style rather than suspense;....the elegance of its studio sets, its marvelous opening...its two superb murder scenes, and its smooth and constant moving camerawork make this an essay in style very reminiscent of Leni's The Cat and the Canary.... It's still a good thriller, with sense enough to be brief and fast.” (William K. Everson)