Review of Dial M for Murder (1981) by Mirta C — 21 Aug 2010

I just got to see this in 3D. Man, Hitchcock really makes you conscious of your role as voyeur here, and the 3D definitely emphasizes that, as you're occupying the space as a peeping Tom. Spatially, the first half is more interesting than the second, but the rest of the film is engrossing too, if narrative-wise more than space-wise.

Overall I was a lot more disturbed than the last time I saw it several years ago. The way Hitchcock sexualizes the murder attempt is unsettling, and one could argue that there's misogyny here as well -- the men control the story machinery and get the viewer's participation, while Grace is just there to get manipulated.

Maybe. But this is definitely an important movie.