Hitchcock Review: Stellar

Alfred Hitchcock inspires visions of vicious birds and bloody shower drains. “Hitchcock” turns the focus from the horror — to the man in the corner behind the camera. This film captures the struggle that Hitchcock endured during the production of “Psycho” and much like that iconic shower scene, “Hitchcock” thrusts a knife into your heart and refuses to remove it until the credits roll.

Based on Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of “Psycho,” by Stephen Rebello, “Hitchcock” puts Alfred Hitchcock’s life on display in an entertaining yet powerful way. Though light on the actual creation of “Psycho,” “Hitchcock” focuses on Alfred Hitchcock’s personal life and the problems that plagued him in the creation of the infamous film.

“Good Evening” — The moment Anthony Hopkins utters these famous words, every other role he’s ever played becomes obsolete. Before our eyes, Hopkins becomes Alfred Hitchcock.

From the black suit to the portly belly that’s always on display, there’s no doubt that Hopkins looks the part, but he also becomes the part with his posture and mannerisms. The well-known Hitchcock silhouette also makes an appearance — a nod to Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

His lips stay in a constant frown while he keeps a steady tone delivering wit with a subtle British accent. Every line that comes out of his delightfully dissatisfied scowl is skillfully said and in perfect rhythm.

Not to be outdone, Helen Mirren plays an extraordinary Alma Hitchcock. She’s the neglected housewife who never gets the recognition she deserves. Her grief is ever present in her face but she stays resilient throughout — even when she has to defend him from his naysayers.

The tension between the two is thick because of Mr. Hitchcock’s obsession with his new film which leads Mrs. Hitchcock to look for love in other places. She finds an admirer in Whitfield Cook, [Danny Huston] a writer who failed to pitch a script to her husband.

As if this wasn’t stressful enough for Mr. Hitchcock to handle, his new movie “Psycho” is an undertaking filled with obstacles such as financial problems and a strict censor [Kurtwood Smith]. The negotiations between these two add some light humor to an otherwise drama-filled film.

The unraveling of Mr. Hitchcock is accompanied by private scenes of him with Ed Gein [Michael Wincott] (the murderer the inspired “Psycho.”) These small descents into madness add little to no value to the overall character development or plot progression and should have been excluded.

Even though drama is prevalent in “Hitchcock,” there’s some smart humor to be found in the witty interactions between Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock. The back-and-forth bickering between the two is reminiscent of the everyday husband and wife. The depiction of Alfred Hitchcock in a domestic setting as opposed to a film set adds another dimension to his character.

This is no love story but rather a story about a marriage on the rocks. Throughout the movie the fate of the marriage is always in question, only being resolved at the very end. The uneasiness compels you and keeps you gleefully engaged.

As we watch this in the present day, we already know that Mr. Hitchcock will pull off “Psycho” — the movie that changed horror in cinema forever. Being able to watch the strenuous movie creation process and the personal factors that played a part in the creation of it is simply a treat to behold.

Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock is what ensures that this movie is a bloody good time.