Zephyrus of the Anemoi

.the ramblings of a radman.

Tag: Hitchcock

Scary Movie Month – Day 12 – Psycho

October 12, 2011 /

Psycho (iTunes) is an iconic film and is my second Hitchcock film for Scary Movie Month. Psycho is often considered to be where “slasher” films began, due to a number of filming techniques and the way the plot is structured. Most slasher films, which became very popular in the late 70s and throughout the 80s, continue to use the same techniques, themes, and plot-twists while presenting the viewer with a “mystery” that the characters (and sometimes even the audience) are trying to solve.

While The Birds is a better movie, and North by Northwest is my favorite, Psycho is still a remarkable movie and any fan of cinema should check it out for the performances alone. Anthony Perkins is phenomenal as Norman Bates, and the way the plot unfolds, twists, and turns before the end makes it worth watching to everyone.

Also, if you’re just “tuning in” to Scary Movie Month, be sure to check out the calendar to see what’s coming up. Also, be sure and check out the new episode of Dead-Wait, the zombie web-series filmed and produced in Kansas City, which is available today.

Scary Movie Month – Day 11 – The Birds

October 11, 2011 /

I think I’m in love with Tippi Hedren. Not really, in love, since I’m married and love my wife dearly. And of course, she’s 50 years my senior. But still, she is fascinating to watch. Alfred Hitchcock was a genius in recognizing her talent and casting her. Thank goodness that he did, as her success was likely a huge encouragement for her daughter, Melanie Griffith, to pursue acting.

I had seen the climax of The Birds (iTunes) when I was younger, but never had the opportunity to watch the whole thing. I can honestly say, that had I seen this movie as a child, I would have felt very differently about birds the rest of my life. As it stands, I’m still disconcerted when I see large numbers of birds congregating.

There are a number of moments in this movie where it feels a bit like an apocalypse movie. But, instead of zombies or an expansive, radioactive wasteland, birds are the unstoppable force standing between our heroes and hope. Hitchcock did an excellent job of making the entire city of Bodega Bay feel as though it is under attack from angry avian assailants. The ending is a little ambiguous, though. Several alternate endings were considered, some of which were even darker than this one. However, there is a sense of either hope or hopelessness at the end, depending on the viewer, which is a nice touch.

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