Tuesday, June 23, 2015

555. Frenzy

Frenzy
1972
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock











It is nice to see a familiar face in the seventies even though, unfortunately, this is the last Hitchcock film in The Book.  I wish it was a better send off, but this is one of my least favorite Hitchcock movies.

A serial killer is raping and murdering women in London with horrifically ugly neckties.  Suspicion falls on Richard Blaney, but when is the accused ever guilty in a Hitchcock movie?

Frequent readers of my blog know that I can't stand rape in films.  Still, I can't deny that it is is a compelling movie.  A lot of the redeeming qualities of this movie can be found in the last scene, which I can't reveal without major spoilers.  I will say the male leads are incredible.

Parts of this film were needlessly disturbing, like when a woman's fingers are broken after rigor mortis sets in.

Not very Hitchcockian but still worthy of a watch.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Only Hitchcock film to get a R rating.

HITCHCOCK RADAR: In the crowd at the beginning of the film.

4 comments:

  1. Yes, there are several much better Hitchcock's that could have gone in without this. I guess they thought they needed a 'late period' one to balance the classics.. but.. Hohum.. it's not that bad.

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  2. Solid film, but the Master of Suspense did better.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly! I think we are probably too hard on him since we expect so much.

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  3. I think you are a lot nicer to it than I was. The R-rating did not add anything to it and the police work is incredibly sloppy. Rarely has a murderer been advertising his presence as clearly as here.

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