Favorite Hitchcock Movies

My favorite Hitchcock film of all time. The suspense, the tension, the thrills, and that twist that is a swift kick in the trousers. Hitchcock presents the mystery and exploration of obsession in a very surreal, almost dream-like manner. It’s one of those films that shocked me so much that I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after watching it.

“We all go a little mad sometimes”, the infamous words of cinemas most influential serial murderers, Norman Bates. This film started it all for our Michael Myers and our Jasons, and helped create the Slasher genre that is so beloved today. Bates takes away the audience’s sense of comfort by many means, such as voyeurism and homicide. But the thing I think that is the most frightening is how easily Bates fits into normal society, yet is so psychotic. This movie hosts the infamous shower scene, and I still think it’s awesome that they used chocolate syrup for the blood.

The scenario isn’t that far fetched, which might be why it is so effective. A man is subjected to a wheelchair and has nothing to do but spy on his neighbors across the street in an apartment complex. While peeping, he begins to suspect one of the residents of being a murderer. A flawless suspense film that delivers to its fullest and still contends as one of the greatest mystery movies of all time.

Talk about a film that stands the test of time, I STILL love this movie every time I watch it. A joy of a cat and mouse game that introduces us to many of Hitchcock’s trademarks, notably the mistaken identity. An adventure that hosts many thrilling chases, and floats along delightfully with dialogue so witty that you would think it was written yesterday and not in the 1930’s. Fantastic film!

I thought this was going to be a ghost story when I read the premise, but it turned out to be something so much more. Instead of going the supernatural route, Hitchcock explores the complications of tortured memories. Such a great story with such amazing performances, I loved Joan Fontaine in this movie as well as her character.

Probably my favorite Cary Grant movie, and probably the only time he doesn’t get on my nerves. NBN is a solid espionage flick with tension boiling from start to finish, and like Frenzy it features many of Hitchcock’s trademarks all together in one film. One of the best displays of mistaken identity, and keeps you guessing with every scene.

One of the most brilliant presentations of a one-spot film, it literally takes place in only one single position. This position is of course a lifeboat that floats along the ocean after a vessel is blasted by enemy fire. Hitchcock gives us a perfect example of how the only thing you need to make a good film is a good story, plain and simple.

Featuring the magnificent Ingrid Bergman and again with Cary Grant, this is a great spy flick with an admirable romance to it. Probably one of the longest makeout scenes I’ve ever seen, I think it is like over two minutes long, very steamy stuff.

One of the more underappreciated of Hitchcock’s work, and one of his best movies to come from the later part of his career in my opinion. I always saw it as a kind of big finale to Hitchcock’s films, almost like paying tribute to himself. This movie is a little bit of Psycho, a little bit of The Wrong Man, with a touch of Dial M for Murder.

The first Hitchcock film I ever saw, still gives me chills. What would you do if all the birds in the sky around you suddenly became your worst enemy? Where would you hide? Probably the most popular Hitchcock picture next to Psycho, this movie is chilling and endlessly entertaining.