Review of Vertigo (1958) by Martin D — 15 May 2011

Vertigo is a mystery romance that transcends the genre. It becomes a great tragedy. The story is about the dizzying passion of a man for a woman who, in a sense, does not exist. Like many of Hitchcock's films, this lures us into unsettling psychological depths. The main character is a former police officer who quit because of a serious condition of acrophobia (fear of heights). He is privately hired to follow and spy on the suspicious wife of his friend. The wife is a chilling character. She is ghostly in demeanor but very seductive and beautiful. She visits the same hotel, museum, and cemetery everyday but never remembers doing so when asked. Eventually the two meet and the plot begins to seem predictable. Hitchcock uses excellent cinematography technique to build suspense around this woman. And as for the main character, we do feel for his predicament and desperation. The ending is a classic display of unbearable passion. I would imagine that this film would make an interesting case study for professional film reviewers.

Footnote: There are two other movies that, I am confident, have borrowed settings from this movie - Batman in its climactic bell tower sequence. And the Matrix, in its beginning rooftop foot chase.