It seems like a lot of Hitchcock fans do not enjoy this film. It is different than his later films. In fact it’s pretty much exactly what a typical Hitchcock film is NOT. It’s full of meandering moments with very little plot line. But what is great about this be-careful-what-you-wish-for film (and what makes it so hauntingly memorable) is that the characters learn some important lessons and then decide to discard them.
The film can also be interpreted two ways. Is it a story about the bonds of love that can surmount any peril life thows? Or is it a tale to explain why some people stay together when they really shouldn’t? The ambiguity makes this one of my favorite Hitchcock films (so far.)