Review of Rear Window (1954) by Drew O — 05 Jul 2012

Nobody did suspense better than Alfred Hitchcock. In Rear Window, this is the absolute truth. Only Hitch could have made this film and only he is capable of making it the classic that it is.

Think about it, this entire film takes place in one setting. Jeffries's apartment and his view from his window are all you see. The whole film is just a man looking out his window and into the windows of others. There's long stretches with no dialog, there's only a handful of actors with a speaking line, and there's really not much movement from the characters. With all of this, Hitch is still able to create incredible suspense and terrific entertainment. Films like this are why I admire Hitchcock so much. You don't need special effects, fast editing, or action to make an endlessly exciting film.

Rear Window is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Short yet wonderful. Simple yet amazing. Basic but exciting. Alfred Hitchcock is absolutely one of the greatest and most talented directors in history, and his ability to make a masterpiece of such a simple story is unmatched by everyone after him and before him. Maybe only Capra's ability to craft uplifting stories, or Kubrick's ability to build labyrinths of stories, can match Hitch's ability to create suspense.