3 out of 5 starsGenre: SuspenseRated R

After turning in a sly performance as a crafty killer in “Insomnia,” Robin Williams remains the antagonist in his latest film, “One Hour Photo.”

Written and directed by Mark Romanek, the film features Williams at his absolute creepiest, delivering a mind-numbing performance.

Sy Parrish (Williams) works as a film developer in a photomat at a suburban bargain store. He at first seems nice despite the curious aura surrounding him.

Sy develops photos for the Yorkin family, who is the picture of a seemingly perfect family: Nina is the loving housewife with the perfect wardrobe, Will is the hardworking, devoted husband, and young Jake is their soccer-playing son.

During the years, Sy has developed an unhealthy obsession with the Yorkins family.

He begins to think of himself as a member of the family, often referring to himself as “Uncle Sy.” He keeps extra prints of their photos and adds them to a giant collage of Yorkin pictures.When Sy discovers that the picture-perfect Yorkin family is far from flawless, he begins stalking them in an effort to preserve his fragile yet misguided perception of reality.

Romanek’s story of the faults lying beneath the surface of the suburban facade is often eclipsed by the terror that is Sy.

“One Hour Photo” is a twisted tale that works best when Williams is on screen. Not that the other characters in the film are particularly weak, but Williams is so proficient an actor that it’s hard to pay attention to anyone else. Don’t be mistaken, though-Williams doesn’t go over the top in his performance (i.e. “Death To Smoochy”).

He blurs the line between troubled and insane and comes across as creepy but not outright evil. Sy is not a villain in the stereotypical mold of Jason or Freddy, but he is certainly the antagonist.

Sy’s final act to keep the Yorkin family intact at the end of the film is so shocking and downright disturbing that you will have trouble thinking clearly for the next few hours.

But Williams’ performance would not be as frightening without the right mix of cinematography and design, which Romanek handles beautifully.

Sy’s apartment is just as white, sterile and emotionless as the photomat where he works. He is the epitome of loneliness and what happens when that goes unchecked.

Kudos go out to Romanek and Williams for bringing to life the most original, and for lack of a better word, psychotic, character of the year.