Hitchcock Honorable Mentions: Suspicion

Written by: Nightmare Child


We're just taking a short break from the actual top ten list to focus on the films not featured on the blog already. Coming up with a Hitchcock top ten wasn't easy. I'm still kicking myself over the films that I didn't pick. It's like picking a favorite child really. Much like our last entry, this film also stars Cary Grant. This is arguably one of his best performances. SUSPICION is a romantic psychological thriller about a shy young English woman who begins to suspect her husband of trying to kill her. It's really a simple plot that doesn't need to be explained any further. It'll have you guessing all the way to the very end. Is Cary Grant's character a murderer? Or is it all just one big misunderstanding?

With great acting from both Grant and Joan Fontaine, SUSPICION will have you on the edge of your seat. There's one scene in the film that really stands from the rest. It's the scene where Johnnie (Grant) brings his wife a glass of milk to her while she's in bed. To make the imagery stand out, they actually placed a light bulb inside the glass to make it more stunning. You begin to wonder if he did something to the milk. Poison perhaps? You'll just have to watch the film for yourself if you haven't done so already.

CAMEO NOTE: Hitchcock actually has two cameos in this movie. Four minutes in you can see him walking a horse across the screen at the hunt meet. The second is about six minutes into the movie where he's tossing a white sheet of paper while the bus pulls up for Robert Donat and Lucie Mannheim to leave the theater.

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #4

Written by: Nightmare Child


Most of Hitchcock's thrillers deal with the same concept of a person who is at the wrong place at the wrong time. It's often a mistaken identity case. An innocent soul has to endure a series of horrifying events leading up to one giant conclusion. NORTH BY NORTHWEST is no different. Cary Grant stars as Roger Thornhill, a man who is mistaken for a Mr. George Kaplan and kidnapped by Valerian and Licht. He is taken to the house of Lester Townsend on Long Island. There he is interrogated by a man he assumes to be Townsend, but who is really Phillip Vandamm. Thornhill repeatedly denies he is Kaplan, but Vandamm does not believe him. He orders his right-hand man Leonard (played marvelously by Martin Landau) to get rid of him. It's a cat and mouse chase across the country with Mr. Thornhill running to save his own life.


Filled with murders and unbelievable chase scenes (one in particular being the most iconic involving a crop dusting plane), NORTH BY NORTHWEST is the perfect film for thrill seekers and worldly travelers. It's a nice change of pace from Hitchcock's previous film VERTIGO. The plot of this film involves what Alfred Hitchcock calls a "MacGuffin", a physical object that everyone in the film is chasing but which has no deep relationship to the plot. This plot device seems to work almost every time. Much like Hitchcock's other film SABATEUR, the ending takes place on a historical landmark. This one being on top of Mount Rushmore.


This is easily one of Hitchcock's most intense and thrilling films. It's got so many twists and turns that it makes it hard for any human being to trust anyone. Anything can happen, and it's presented well. Grant makes this picture his own. Cary Grant worked with Hitchcock on three other different films: Suspicion, Notorious and To Catch a Thief. All of which are amazing films in their own right. Grant personified the prototype of the ideal man created by Hitchcock and the type of man he would have liked to be. Every man at one point wanted to be Cary Grant. Even he himself wanted to be Cary Grant. Hitchcock also stated that Grant was "the only actor he ever loved in his whole life". Who could blame him? After seeing this movie you can't help but love Cary Grant.

I'm sure for alot of people, this movie would be number one on their list. Sadly we're not finished yet. We still have three more films to cover plus some added honorable mentions. There are just way too many Hitchcocks films that have yet to be covered. If you don't have NORTH BY NORTHWEST in your collection already, I highly recommend the blu-ray. It has that nice high def polish that's just going to make you love the film even more.



CAMEO NOTE: At the very end of the opening credits, you can see Hitchcock missing his bus right after they show his name on screen.

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #5

Written by: Nightmare Child


Birds are friendly creatures, right? Remember the impact George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD had? It used to scare me watching it at night as a child. Just the thought of strangers trying to force themselves into your home drove me crazy and kept me up through the night. Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS had the same exact impact on me. Instead of people, it's crazy birds trying to kill you. Isn't that strange? Birds trying to kill people? Hitchcock made it work; too well in fact. THE BIRDS is one of Hitchcock's most popular films (and for good reason). Unlike his previous work which consists of crime thrillers and dramas, THE BIRDS is more of a true horror movie. Based on the 1952 novella by Daphne du Maurier, THE BIRDS takes place in the town of Bodega Bay, California. Which is, suddenly and for unexplained reasons, the subject of a series of widespread and violent bird attacks. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) travels to the coastal town to hook up with a rugged fellow (Rod Taylor) she's only just met. Before long the town is attacked with poor Melanie caught in the mix.

Having this film as #5 on our list seems a little unfair. THE BIRDS is a great movie all on its own, but Hitchcock has so many great flicks that it's hard to narrow it down. I'm sure most of you have seen this movie at least once in your life. This is one of those movies I like to push people to see. It's really scary and intense to watch. Just seeing a flock of seagulls going after a group of school children is bad enough. Picture them trying to enter a house that you've boarded yourself in with a massive army of them waiting outside near the playground. Of all the Hitchcock movies out there, this one scared me the most. You would have to be living in a rock most of your life to never hear of this movie. It's been parodied to death in cartoons, TV sitcoms and in other motion pictures. Looking back at THE BIRDS today is an enjoyable experience. You may laugh at the special effects, but for its time it was really frightening. The noise that the birds themselves make are uneasy to the ear. I don't see how anybody can bad mouth this movie. THE BIRDS sadly lacks a conventional score. Instead of music the film uses sound effects and sparse source music in counterpoint to calculated silences.

THE BIRDS even had a sequel in 1994 called "THE BIRDS II: LAND'S END." If you're smart enough, you'll stay away from that dreaded so called sequel. The original classic is all you need to satisfy your dark urges. Last we heard Platinum Dunes tried to do a remake back in 2007, but ended up just scrapping the project (thank god) in 2009. The last thing we need is for an explanation as to why the birds are killing people. We've already seen terrible remakes for THE LODGER and PSYCHO. Leave this one alone damn it!



CAMEO NOTE: Two minutes into the film Hitchcock can been seen leaving the pet shop with two white Sealyham terriers.

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #6

Written by: Nightmare Child

Normally when someone peaks into the window of another persons home, that's creepy enough. Can you imagine spying through someone's window, only to discover someone being murdered? It's a peeping tom's nightmare. If anybody can take an already creepy concept and turn that volume up to 11, it's Alfred Hitchcock. This was one of those movies I used to watching as a kid. Seeing it as an adult now just makes me appreciate it more. I love REAR WINDOW, and I'm sure most of you reading this list do to. It's such a great movie. Both its story and visual perspective are dictated by its protagonist's imprisonment in his apartment, convalescing in a wheelchair, from which both he and the audience observe the lives of his neighbors in a cheerfully voyeuristic fashion.

L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) is an adventure-loving professional photographer sidelined by an accident while on assignment. When the invalid wife of the salesman Lars Thorwald vanishes, Jeff believes the man might have killed his wife. He tells his concerns to Lisa and to his nurse Stella and the women agree with his observations, but his friend Detective Thomas J. Doyle finds reasonable explanation for each remark. However, Lisa decides to go further in her investigation, getting closer to the suspect. One could argue that the murder plot is the MacGuffin--a mere pretext--in a film that's more interested in the implications of Jeff's sentinel perspective. When Jeff peaks out into other peoples homes, he gives the residents weird names to remember them by.

Later we learn more about the lives of the other neighbors. Jeff's evident fear of intimacy and commitment with Lisa provides the other vital thread to the story. As with most of these mysteries I can't really explain too much without giving away the entire movie, so I'll just let it rest for now. REAR WINDOW has been called one of Alfred Hitchock's best. And as you can see we completely agree (it's on our list!). It received four Academy Award nominations and was added to the United States National Film Registry in '97. REAR WINDOW has been re-told, parodied and referenced many times. DISTURBIA (2007) was practically a modern retelling of the story. This goes to show you that an old idea never goes out of style!

As with more of Hitchcock's classics, Universal has re-released REAR WINDOW in an awesome Legacy Special Edition set. Chalk full bonus features that will make you love and appreciate the movie even more.



CAMEO NOTE: About 25 minutes into the film Hitchcock can be seen winding the clock in the songwriter's apartment.

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #7

Written by: Nightmare Child

Hitchcock truly was the master of suspense. This film alone proves that as fact. VERTIGO is one of Hitchcock's most intense and thrilling pictures. Those with a fear of heights can relate to James Stewarts portrayal as a man who is deathly afraid of tall structures. Hitchcock loves to take ordinary people and put them in extraordinary situations. Based on a novel by Boileau-Narcejac, VERTIGO is about retired police detective John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart). Ferguson suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights) and has been re-hired as a private investigator to follow the wife of an acquaintance to uncover the mystery of her peculiar behavior.

When VERTIGO was first released, it seemed to be ahead of its time. Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, VERTIGO has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. VERTIGO has been called the most personal, emotional, and complex of Hitchcock's films. I tend to agree with all these statements. VERTIGO is such an amazing picture. It's been analyzed and praised to death by fans all over the world. It's one of those Hitchcock movies that I'll never get sick of watching.

It's suspenseful and scary to watch in parts. I myself am afraid of heights. Just thinking about falling off large buildings gives me goosebumps. There are phenomenal performances by Jimmy Stewart, who plays the biggest anti-hero of his career and Kim Novak whose stunning beauty and exceptional personalities shine through this dark film. If you don't already have this film in your collection, I recommend picking up the Universal Legacy Special Edition DVD set. It's a 50th Anniversary set with restored picture, audio and some great bonus material.



CAMEO NOTE: Eleven minutes in Hitchcock can be seen in a grey suit walking in the street.

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #8

Written by: Nightmare Child

Much like the last film in our countdown (ROPE), this movie is notorious for its setting and atmosphere. LIFEBOAT is different from Hitchock's usual crime thriller. It's a war movie that follows a group of survivors who are stranded out at sea. During World War II a group of American and British citizens are stuck in a lifeboat after their ship and a U-boat sink each other in combat Survivors from the freighter torpedoed by a U-boat huddle together including columnist Constance Porter, the ship's engineer Kovac, radio operator Stanley Garrett, nurse Alice MacKenzie, millionaire Charles 'Ritt' Rittenouse, seaman Gus Smith, steward Joe, and Mrs. Higley, a hysterical English woman holding her dead baby. Though the inhabitants of the lifeboat come from vastly different backgrounds, they quickly set aside the social and economic differences that divide them in a united effort to survive.

Explaining the plot further would just ruin the whole thing, so I'll just leave it at that. Basically you're stuck watching these people trying to survive out at sea. Just the thought of being stranded out in the ocean is scary. Trying being in the middle of war while it's happening. These elements together create paranoia, and that's just one of the reasons why we love this movie. What makes LIFEBOAT stand apart is its character development and dialog. LIFEBOAT runs at a pretty good pace and at 91 minutes total it doesn't ever seem to drag. The story comes from John Steinbeck, the author of such stories as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men."

Trying to fit a group of actors in one place can be a challange, and it's remarkable that Hitchcock was able to get it down. For such a small frame Hitchcock managed somehow to fit a good number of characters on screen at the same time. If you haven't had the oppertunity to see LIFEBOAT yet, then I suggest adding it to your Netflix cue right away. Especially if you're a fan of the movie ROPE. The film is so good that it received Academy Award nominations for Best Director, Best Original Motion Picture Story and Best Black and White Cinematography. Some critics see this as an unsubtle wartime propaganda piece; I call it a great achievement in cinema. LIFEBOAT's portrayal of a German character (was perceived as a positive fashion) caused considerable controversy at the time of its release. Looking back at it now, I don't think that's entirely true. Go see this movie!



CAMEO NOTE: How can Hitchcock make an appearance in LIFEBOAT without having to play a character on screen? That's easy, just read the newspaper. 25 minutes into the film Hitchcock's body is seen in the "before" and "after" newspaper ad for "Reduco Obesity Slayer".

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #9

Written by: Nightmare Child


ROPE is an interesting movie to watch. Especially when you watch it with a group of friends. Right after the opening credits the audience is treated to a quick and simple murder. Needless to say, the suspense builds up from the start. You can't help but wonder: What else is going to happen? What does the rest of the movie have in store for me? It's brilliance. Pure, long brilliance. In ROPE we follow Branden and Philip. The couple have just murdered their former classmate David, and hid his body inside of an antique wooden chest. After the so called "perfect murder", Branden and Philip host a dinner in the very same room where David was killed. The guests are unaware that David has gone missing, and begin to question his disappearance. Little do they know David is close by, but he is no longer the life of the party (pardon the pun).

What makes ROPE stand out from Hitchcock's other films is that the entire thing takes place in one setting (much like the next film in our countdown). For about 80 minutes you're stuck inside of Branden and Philips apartment. The only time you get to see outside is during the opening credits. For the rest of the picture you're inside the apartment with a view of Manhattan blaring outside the windows. The premise is strange yet satisfying. Branden and Phil throw a party while theirs a dead body in their wooden chest; which is proudly displayed in the living room with the dinner guests eating off of it. The only person in the party who begins to suspect Branden and Phil is Rupert Cadell, the prep-school housemaster and publisher played brilliantly by James Stewart. Stewart's facial expressions alone are great, and for some reason he's the only one who can see throught Phil and Branden's lies. The suspense in ROPE builds you up until the very end, and that's why we love this movie with a passion. It's very subtle, but Hitchcock still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat.

ROPE is notorious for its long and extended cuts. There are literally hundreds of cuts in movies where the camera switches from time to time depending on the scene. In ROPE the camera doesn't cut out for long periods of time. In total there's only ten cuts in the film. Each extending for about 5-10 minutes. The longest segment runs about ten minutes and seven seconds. Each part is cleverly edited with blackout shots - continuously panning from actor to actor. Most segments end by panning against or tracking into an object (a man’s jacket blocking the entire screen, for example). In this way, Hitchcock effectively masked almost all the cuts in the film. It's an experimental piece of art that begs to be seen. Be sure to add ROPE to your Netflix cue if you haven't seen it already. It's such a great film.



CAMEO NOTE: Hitchcock has not one but two cameos in this picture. One is in bodily form walking along a street. The other is his trademark silhouette which can be seen on a red neon sign advertising "Reduco" in the view from the apartment window. The neon sign is the little hard to see, so look very carefully!

Our favorite Hitchcock Movies #10

Written by: Nightmare Child


The best way to watch Hitchcock's THE LADY VANISHES is with a laptop (or mini-dvd player) on an Amtrak train. Perhaps with a cup of coffee in your hand. What is THE LADY VANISHES about anyway? Well it's about a woman named Iris who befriends an older lady on a train. Iris is on her way back to England. Sadly her train is delayed by an avalanche that has blocked the railway tracks. Once the avalanche clears, Iris begins preparing for her journey. While on her way to the train, Iris gets hit over the head by an unknown shadow. It's apparently obvious that something is not right. That's when Miss Froy comes in. Miss Froy is an elderly lady who has worked some years abroad as a governess. Both Miss Froy and Iris board the train together. Getting to know each other by making coversation.

When Iris takes a nap on the train, she awakens later and discovers that Miss Froy has gone missing. Was she kidnapped? Or is it just in Iris' head? The question of whether or not Miss Froy actually existed is just one of the many mysteries in Hitchcock's THE LADY VANISHES. The mysterious plot is the very thing that sucks you in from the start. THE LADY VANISHES is one of Hitchcock's best mysteries that keeps you glued to the couch until the very end. The movie was Hitchock's penultimate film made in the UK before his move to Hollywood years later. It was the great success of THE LADY VANISHES, after a slump of three films that were not hits, that made it possible for Hitchcock to negotiate a very good deal to work in the States. The film was also remade in 1979 by Hammer Studios. THE LADY VANISHES is full of suspense, mystery and humor. It's a great film to watch; especially when you're on a train yourself.

I will admit the film does get a little far fetched towards the end. There's an intense build up for the reveal, and when you do figure out what's going on, it's hard to believe. Luckily that doesn't spoil the entire experience. See THE LADY VANISHES if you haven't already.



CAMEO NOTE: Hitchcock is known to make quiet cameo appearances in most of his movies. Here Hitchcock shows up an hour and a half into the film (near the end). He can be seen in the Victoria Station, wearing a black coat and smoking a cigarette. It's a quick one, so look carefully.

Hitchcock's PSYCHO turns 50 next month!

We're so excited and we just can't hide it. Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO will be turning fifty next month. There's only one way to celebrate (other then watching the movie for the millionth time); a top ten list! We'll be counting down our favorite Alfred Hitchcock films for your enjoyment. Will such favorites as THE BIRDS, VERTIGO and NORTH BY NORTHWEST make the list? In Hitchcock's signature style, we're going to leave it as a mystery for now. Be here early when the posting is announced, because you won't be let in once it's started.

Night, Dawn, Day, Land, Diary and now Survival!

George Romero's new zombie flick SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD can be seen everywhere. You can watch it in select theaters, on demand and on HDNet. We've had the oppertunity to see the film for ourselves - and to be quite honest, it's not Romero's best film. SURVIVAL contains all the familiar elements that Romero is know for: Flesh eaters, social commentary and a whole lot of zombie gore. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD took place on the very first evening of the zombie apocolypse. DAWN and DAY took place sometime after that. Following different groups on their struggle to survive against the onslaught of zombies. LAND OF THE DEAD was the film that brought Romero back to doing what he did best. Of all the "Dead" films, LAND was the one with the biggest budget. DIARY was short on both the budget and scope, but that didn't stop it from becoming an ejnoyable experience. DIARY went back to the beginning (the where all hell broke loose). SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is George Romero's newest zombie film. Unlike all the previous film in the "Dead" series, SURVIVAL feels more like a sequel to DIARY.

The film takes place in a desperate, nightmarish world where the dead walk the earth, relentlessly attacking the living. It is the story of Plum Island - a beautiful refuge whose isolation allows two powerful families to maintain a semblance of order in the wake of the zombie apocalypse. But as the inhabitants slowly die off, the two clans become sharply divided: The O'Flynns believe that the undead must be destroyed without exception, while the Muldoons insist that afflicted loved ones be kept "alive" until a cure is found. Into this situation wander a small group of National Guard soldiers who, after robbing the protagonists of the previous film (DIARY), have decided to strike out on their own in an effort to survive.

If it's a Romero zombie movie, then you'll know what to expect.

Halloween 6 Producers Cut screen shots

If you haven't seen the Producer's Cut of HALLOWEEN 6 yet, then I suggest that you do so (s0mehow). I've been wanting to see this cut for years and I patiently waited for Dimension to come out with an official release. Sadly that has yet to happen, and thanks to Disney it may not happen anytime soon. Bootlegs of the Producer's Cut have been selling all over the internet for years. Both in VHS and DVD format. As you would expect, the bootleg quality isn't great - but it's more than worth the cash. After abandoning all hope, we finally gave in. Now we've got our hands on a copy of the infamous original version of HALLOWEEN 6. After giving it a shot, we realized that it was a horrible mistake to wait for Disney to release a proper version. This Producer's Cut is amazing!

It's way better than the theatrical cut. There's more scenes with extended footage and it carries a much darker tone. The music and narration is different as well. We could go on for hours about all the changes, but it's best for you to see it for yourself. I think the biggest difference overall is the actual telling of the story. All the restored footage gives the story a little more flare and maturity. It's violent, though the death scenes in the theatrical cut are slightly better. We prefer a good story over brutality, and H6 is a perfect example. Did you ever wonder what happened to Dr. Loomis at the end of H6? The Producer's Cut shows it all. If you ever get the chance, we highly recommend that you snag yourself a copy. It's definitely worth it. Who doesn't love Michael Myers? Perhaps these screen shots will persuade you:

FULCI LIVES: The Beyond

This is one of those horror movies that I will never get sick of watching. I've watched it at home and on the big screen. I've shown it to friends and family. It always gives me such great delight to show and recommend "The Beyond" to others. It's my favorite Lucio Fulci film (believe it or not). Sure it's almost 30 years old and the special effects aren't what you call "spectacular" but it does entertain. It's filled with mild scares and lots of gore. Gruesome would be the word to use when describing "The Beyond." The film takes place on a remote and cursed hotel, built over one of the seven gateways. Becoming a malevolent abyss that begins devouring both the bodies and the souls of all who enter in a graphic frenzy of gory crucifixions, chunk-blowing chain-whippings, sulfuric acid meltdowns, flesh-eating tarantulas, throat-shredding demon dogs and ravenous bloodthirsty zombies. It's just the stuff that Fulci is known for!


If you haven't seen this movie then I suggest that you should. You can get it online at a good price. The more recent DVDs come with special features and the original unrated, uncensored director's cut. If you're new to the genre, I suggest watching "The Beyond" in small doses. It's really violent - Like seeing someone getting their eyeballs ripped off of their face. It also features one of the best head shots known to mankind. Ever see a bullet burst through the head of a possessed little girl? It's pretty fucking awesome! It you enjoy the film, I also recommend getting the soundtrack. It features all the music that's played in the movie. I happen to find the soundtrack to be pretty relaxing.

Keep coming back to the blog. Soon we'll have more miniture reviews on Fulci's films. Check back soon for posts on ZOMBI 2, HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, THE NEW YORK RIPPER and CAT IN THE BRAIN.

New Elm Street hitting theatres in 10 days!

Unfortunately, remakes are still being chugged out of the assembly line. There's no stopping it now. The damage has already been done. Some horror remakes are decent, but it's so few and far between. The reason why we bring up this dead horse again is because of the new Elm Street flick. We love the original so much - so we're hoping that it wont be that bad. Somehow I'm beginning to doubt it...

Samuel Bayer's remake of the popular 1985 film is hitting theaters in less than ten days. A re-imagining of the horror icon Freddy Krueger, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is about a serial-killer who wields a glove with four blades embedded in the fingers and kills people in their dreams, resulting in their real death in reality. Jackie Earle Haley plays the role of Freddy Krueger (originally portrayed by Robert Englund) this time time around. On April 30th, prepare to never sleep again.

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQnoIq4UFY