THE BIRTH OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

Alfred Hitchcock basically invented the thriller, creating the postulates of tension on the big screen long before the golden age of the genre itself. He did it in  a old school fashion, with minimum on screen violence and blood, tangling with the viewer's mind.

„Rear window” brings us the original concept of photographer (immortal James Stewart) strapped to a wheelchair that begins to suspect his neighbor is a murderer. Suspicion is the backbone of the script that is placed in a small inner courtyard of the building and it succeeds to drag every person living there in it, including the lead character's girlfriend (Grace Kelly). Things are getting more and more complicated as the dilemma grows, leading to a final crescendo.

The major flaw of the script is the production uncapable of visually presenting the final showdown as well as certain naïve explanations and action sequences.

„Rear window” is a great old school thriller and a role model in the decades that followed its appearance.

REAR WINDOW – 7/10

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CORNERSTONE FOR THE ENTIRE GENRE

Hitchcock's best movie was the combination of his favorite genres, horror and thriller.

With „Psycho” Alfred went further and deeper inside the viewer's head than any time before or after it. There were no questions asked about the stringency of the story about a Oedipal young hotel manager (magnificently portrayed by Anthony Perkins) and all of his crimes. The anatomy of a psychopath was thouroughly laid out in front of the viewer, giving every single aspect of his frightening behaviour a logical motivation. In a lack of a better explanation, „Psycho” outgrew horror and became real life.

When you add some of the cinema's most memorable scenes (Janet Leigh under the shower, mother's rocking chair) and a blood chilling closing performance by Perkins, you get a timeless classic.

„Psycho” is Hitchock's best work and one of the best genre representatives in the entire history of Hollywood.

PSYCHO – 9/10

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STILL GRUESOME, BUT A BIT BANAL

Hitchcock invented thriller, but also managed to lift the horror movies to a psychologically convincing genre after decades of rubber dolls and poor makeup.

The concept of wildlife (in this case birds) turning against humans wasn't new in Hollywood, but presented visual effects and serious gore on the silver screen indeed were.

However, due to a technology evolution, „The birds” main advantages became its major flaws, not coming near to convincing the modern day viewer in its action sequences. Also, the very end will leave the story tangling in the air, finishing the dramatic movie too soon and too fast.

„The birds” were a remarkable achievement in its era, but also failed the test of time.

THE BIRDS – 5/10

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