James
Perhaps it’s due to my dislike for the overrated “North By Northwest”, but as of now this is my favourite Hitchcock.
Vertigo
1958Movie128 minEnglish
A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.
Insights
IMDb7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes92%
Metacritic93
Google Users91%
Director: Alfred Hitchcock•Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Plot Summary
A former police detective, battling a crippling fear of heights, is hired to investigate the strange behavior of his friend's wife, who he becomes dangerously obsessed with. As he delves deeper into her life, he uncovers a complex web of deception, manipulation, and tragedy that blurs the lines between reality and illusion. The detective's acrophobia becomes a central obstacle as he grapples with his sanity and the haunting specter of the woman he desires.
Critical Reception
Initially met with mixed reviews and considered a commercial disappointment upon its release, Vertigo has since undergone a dramatic critical reassessment. It is now widely regarded as one of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces and a landmark achievement in cinematic history, celebrated for its innovative filmmaking, psychological depth, and enduring influence on the thriller genre. Its reputation has solidified over decades, culminating in its recognition as the greatest film of all time by Sight & Sound.
What Reviewers Say
- A visually stunning and psychologically complex thriller that explores themes of obsession, identity, and the power of illusion.
- Hitchcock's masterful direction creates a dreamlike and unsettling atmosphere, amplified by Bernard Herrmann's iconic score.
- James Stewart delivers a compelling performance as a haunted detective, portraying profound vulnerability and a disturbing fixation.
Google audience: Audiences praise the film's captivating mystery, psychological depth, and Hitchcock's signature suspenseful direction. Many highlight James Stewart's performance and the film's enduring impact, though some find the pacing deliberate and the plot's twists demanding of attention.
Awards & Accolades
Ranked the greatest film of all time in the 2012 and 2022 Sight & Sound critics' polls. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director. Won the Golden Globe for Best Director.
Fun Fact
The famous 'dolly zoom' or 'Vertigo effect' was first used in this film to visually represent Scottie's acrophobia, creating a disorienting sensation by simultaneously zooming in and pulling the camera back.
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My Review
TMDB Reviews
5 reviews
JPV852
Not one of my favorites from Hitchcock, and certainly dower, but still visually striking and two amazing performances from James Stewart and Kim Novak. This is only the second time seeing this, guessing the last time was maybe 10 years ago ...
barrymost
A tense, dizzying thriller from the Master.
Plot in a nutshell: A retired detective suffering from acrophobia takes the case of an old college chum's wife, who may be possessed by the spirit of her great-grandmother who committed suicide...
tmdb47633491
I will never understand the universal adoration for Vertigo. Blindly inherited wisdom is the only explanation. How anyone could prefer this to North by Northwest or Rear Window is beyond me. An exceptionally made, exceptionally boring movie
Eky
All I know, this film wasn’t so successful at first and this probably because the audience didn’t expect a film so dark and claustrophobic. Vertigo was so strange already from the beginning because of its surreal and nightmarish atmosphere....