esrosedotblog

HITCHED

There are a lot of Alfred Hitchcock films in the NYTimes Best 1176 Films series.

Today, we saw Frenzy (1972).

This is not one of the better known thrillers as it has no 'stars'. An all British cast plays out the story in a real, all location shot London. We felt as though we were there.

Although some of it is just a bit contrived, the thrills and scares and grisly humor are all purely Hitchcock and work. We rarely get an opportunity to step out of it to take a break.

There are a few camera routines that are breathtaking. In the longest one, we precede the killer up the stairs along with his unsuspecting victim; we see them into the room and then, the camera reverses and moves back down the stairs and out the front of the building; across the street and then holds.

Not a sound. Not a person in the receding shot. Stuff like that which has great effect. A good picture is worth many thousands of words.

Again, it is an the innocent man accused. This time we know who the killer is almost from the start. The question is which man will be caught.

It was pretty good. Tight as a drum.

I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5.