A banker, disillusioned with his life, decides to be ‘reborn’ with the help of ‘The Company, ’ which manages this feat with plastic surgery and a new identity.

John Frankenheimer’s film is essentially the same premise as the UK TV show The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, but without the humour, with added paranoia and a darker tone at its core. Reggie Perrin in The Twilight Zone, if you will.

Rock Hudson is great as the ‘reborn’ Tony Wilson and shows that he was massively underrated as an actor. Murray ‘Open The Beaches’ Hamilton also stars and is excellent.

But it’s the direction and cinematography that help realise the nightmarish vision here. James Wong Howe has filmed Seconds to emphasise the tension, intrusion (notice how the camera is within the character’s personal space in the most tense scenes) and utter horror regarding the film’s premise.

As Seconds demonstrates, there is a second chance at life. But not a third, as Tony finds out to his detriment.

A film way ahead of its time on many levels.

4 out of 5 stars