Review of Frenzy (2015) by Conner R — 27 Apr 2010

The master's favorite theme of mistaken identity brought into the disturbing premises of the "serial killer" sub-genre. "Frenzy", one of Hitchcock's last efforts, proved that it is not just suspense that he is always in command, but also the art of character manipulation.

For the first 10 minutes or so of the film, he made us audiences to believe and condition our minds that it is indeed Richard Blaney(Jon Finch) that is the famed "Necktie murderer", making him disappear in the middle of a conversation, and even having him remove the eponymous object from him in the early moments of the film.

Hitchcock had masterfully created this illusion, shocking us with who really is the real killer. Maybe it's just me because I've never properly read the plot summary, but its really effective.

Between the sequences of unrelenting and disturbing sequences, is the unexpectedly humorous peculiar dinners of the chief inspector(Alec Mccowen) made by his loving wife. Aside from that comedic slice of domestic life, are little hints of dark comedy concerning a truck of potatoes and a pin-grasping dead body.

"Frenzy" is Hitchcock bringing his style to a free, less-restricting cinema, putting some of the violence audiences at that time were already fully welcome to watch, all that with variations of unexpected humor.