Christian Bale stars as the titular 120 pound machine operator in Brad Anderson's deeply atmospheric The Machinist, a creepy, slowly unwinding mystery/thriller that is very evocative of Alfred Hitchcock.

The first thing you notice about this film is Bale and just how absolutely unnerving he looks, akin to a Holocaust survivor. Bale seems to personify desperation, fear, and paranoia as he looks like at any moment he could collapse and cease to be. He is a skeleton with pale skin. Coupled with Bale's masterful, nearly naturalistic acting, it is a riveting performance. Bale really takes advantage of how he looks and uses his physicality to make every outburst or emotional breakdown that much more cringe-inducing. Whether it is glaring with sunken eyes or trembling with jagged cheeks, it is believable and frightening at the same time.

The film is deliberately paced and darkly atmospheric which really provides a depressing presence to everything. Colors are muted and the lighting is sparse at best. The tone here is desperation, and the look of the film, as well as a very understated score which serves merely to amplify the mood, is successful in conveying that.

The story, like any good Hitchcock film, is multi-faceted and relies alot on atmosphere to bring it to life. There is a genuine sense of terror about things, as if something sinister is always around the corner. Some characters may be good and some may be bad, but you just can't bring yourself to trust anyone.

Due to some initially unknown reasons, Bale's character Trevor Reznick (make your own theories about that name) cannot sleep and, as demonstrated by his disturbing frame, has trouble eating. He labors in a machine shop and keeps relatively to himself. His only satisfactions in life are two women; one a prostitute who seems to really care for him and the other a waitress at an airport diner that provides good, wholesome company for him during one of his many late nights there.

Everything starts to shatter when a work accident caused by a negligent Reznick results in a coworker losing his arm in one of the many monsterous machines. From then on, he begins to see people that are not there, finds odd things in his apartment, experiences bizarre otherworldly sensations, and becomes paranoid of a supposed plot against him in retribution for the accident. His world suddenly turns menacingly dark as if he had just taken a left turn right into Hell.

But by the end, everything becomes chillingly clear.

If you are a fan of a movie that for the most of its time continues to descend deeper into mystery and madness, this one is for you. From the dark mood to the excellent performance by Bale, everything about this movie succeeds in drawing you deeper until you almost feel like you cannot take it anymore. But by then, it is over. And although you will probably enjoy the film alot, you will not be able to help but breath a sigh of relief.

Rating: 4