Hitchcock: True Cinematic Genius(spoilers)

Rating: 10/10 (28 April 2000)

My mother always used to complain about this movie, it being the one suspense/horror film she actually went to. The shower scene tormented her dreams for a long period of time. I am very glad that she never actually gave me the details of the movie, as I was able to enjoy it without anything spoiled. From the point of the unknowing 90's viewer, this movie still holds up superbly, and becomes even more amazing if enough Hitchcock documentaries are watched. I find a couple of things are overlooked though. The greatest scene in my opinion is not the shower scene(although having the billed star die halfway through the film is incredible). It is the conversation between in the hotel room with the stuffed birds in the background. Subtle with so many distinct ironies and fantastic underplayed acting, mixed with the eerieness of that background creates maybe my second favorite scene in film(the first being the ending stairwell scene from Vertigo) Perhaps what creeped me out the most was the visual of that lonely forgotten house atop the hill, definitely embued with some unknown prescence that the audience cannot quite put their finger on. Like all stellar pieces of film or theater, there is a great deal of humor despite the premise of the work. The most amazing part of this film is its implication on cinema as a whole - the disturbing material inspired countless psychological thrillers and changed film forever. Although none will be able to match this movie for the sake of pure cinematic beauty, that's where the genius of Hitchcock comes into play. He is probably the single greatest director of our time(sorry Kubrick), despite many nowadays not being able to enjoy what they consider "dated" films. *Sigh*