Review of Family Plot (1976) by Blake P — 07 Aug 2012

"Family Plot", is Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd film, but most people today know it to be his last. After scoring quite a few mega-flops in the 1960's, most critics were sighing that the "Master of Suspense" was running out of ideas.

That all changed when 1972's "Frenzy" came out, a rated R extravaganza that not only was modern, but pretty darn suspenseful. It showed a return to form for the ridiculously popular filmmaker, and "Family Plot" could have continued a comeback-- if only Hitchcock hadn't died four years later.

The film may not be his best or his worst, but it's shocking that a director, who's career goes back all the way to the '20's, could be so in touch with what's recent. Casting popular actresses like Karen Black and Barbara Harris was a smart move, and casting unknowns as the leading men makes the film a little bit more interesting.

"Family Plot" is really a slow burn-- Hitchcock always liked to use visuals to set everything up, but this film is a bit more talky, and we get to know the characters. We find out that Blanche (Harris) is a fake psychic trying to find the missing nephew of an old woman (Nesbitt) for $10,000, with the help of her dim-witted cab driver boyfriend (Dern).

As it turns out, this nephew (Devane) and his wife (Black) make a living out of kidnapping people and collecting the ransom, and after murder occurs, the foursome might be connected in some way other than what Blanche is trying to accomplish.

"Family Plot" is definitely a self-reflexive work for the director-- instead of relying on suspense to make it memorable, he instead gives us bits and pieces of his glory days that show that the "Master of Suspense" had one final (and important) breath to show the world.

Thankfully for us, the film does give us quite a few thrills (that car chase? Phenomenal.) a witty screenplay, and memorable characters, so all in all, "Family Plot" is a swan song that is fitting to such an important filmmaker.