Fritz Lang’s M (1931), often hailed as the first modern thriller, is more than a gripping manhunt for a child murderer—it’s a chilling portrait of a society unraveling, where justice blurs between law and mob rule. Shot in the waning days of Germany’s Weimar Republic, the film captures a haunting sense of looming chaos that still resonates today. A masterful blend of suspense, social critique, and existential dread, M laid the groundwork for film noir, psychological horror, and generations of crime cinema.