It is surely not gonna be easy to pick some and leave the rest out of Alfred Hitchcock’s extensive and outstanding filmography. The man who has given new meanings to the genre with his unique storytelling style remains a guidebook for filmmakers, serving as a reference for them to navigate through this genre.
Hitchcock has not just thrilled audiences with his suspense but has constantly proved his genius by innovating new ways to keep his audience on the edge of their seat, leaving them craving for more with every film of his.
Here, I am going to share a list of six of his best films for those of you wanting to explore Alfred Hitchcock’s cinematic brilliance and are eager to embark on a journey filled with mystery and suspense.
Rope
Two friends, inspired by Nietzschean philosophy, strangle their friend for the sheer thrill of committing the perfect crime. Later, they invite the victim’s fiancée and their college professor, whose lectures inadvertently inspired the killing.
Most of the film unfolds within the confines of a single room, and its crisp, tightly written narrative engages you in the mystery as if you were present in that very room.
Dial M for Murder
When the husband discovers her wife’s affair, he plans to murder her to secure her inheritance. He manipulates an old friend into committing the crime but plans go awry when the wife ends up murdering the attacker in self-defense.
This is just the beginning, the movie has a lot to offer. It is filled with clever plot twists and Hitchcock masterfully builds the tension until the final resolution.
Rebecca
‘Rebecca’ tells the story of a young and naive woman who marries an aristocratic widower, only to realize that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who mysteriously died several years ago. Adding to her troubles is the housekeeper, who is so obsessed with Rebecca that she has preserved various items carrying her monograms.
The film can be categorized as a drama mystery, gradually revealing its mysterious elements over time. This is in contrast to most of Alfred Hitchcock’s works that, from the beginning, draw viewers into the puzzle, involving their active participation.
Rear Window
One of the rare classics of the 1950s, Rear Window is about a man with a fractured leg investigating the disappearance of a woman in the apartment opposite his, with a mere telescope. The film is as interesting and thrilling as the plotline is. It is filled with humor, interesting dialogues, and heart-throbbing suspense.
This is Hitchcock at his best with minimum space and maximum imagination.
Psycho
And here comes the most talked-about movie of Hitchcock’s career, ‘Psycho.’ Whether you’re a Hitchcock fan or not, it’s highly unlikely that you haven’t heard of ‘Psycho.’
It tells the story of a woman who rents a motel for a night during a road trip to meet her boyfriend. The woman, carrying a substantial sum of money, meets a tragic end. A few days later, the family files a missing person report, and the police begin to search alongside a private investigator.
The movie features a shower scene, considered among the most influential scenes in the history of cinema even today, with its innovative style of shooting and editing. Therefore, it is a must-watch not only for cinephiles but also for those aspiring to be filmmakers.
Shadows of a doubt
When a charming man visits his relatives, his niece is ecstatic to have her uncle over at their house. However, she soon begins to suspect that her beloved uncle could be a serial killer wanted by the police. As she tries to uncover the truth about her uncle, he becomes aware of her suspicions and tries to stop her.
In his own words, Hitchcock once claimed ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ to be his all-time favorite, and when I finally watched the movie, I realized why. The director hides no information from the audience and keeps it all in the open, then daringly builds the tension that he sustains until the very last scene, constantly giving a palpating feel of sinister lurking beneath the surface of ordinary lives.
So, this concludes our list of Alfred Hitchcock’s best movies. Remember, these are just a selected few, by no means the only ones; they serve as merely a trailer to his mastery. Once you get a hang of it, there is so much more for you to explore and experience in his filmography.
