Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content and thematic material.
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson
Directed by Sacha Gervasi
The least suspenseful Hitchcock movie ever!
In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, are at the top of their creative game as filmmakers amid disquieting insinuations about it being time to retire. To recapture his youth’s artistic daring, Alfred decides his next film will adapt the lurid horror novel, “Psycho,” over everyone’s misgivings. Unfortunately, as Alfred self-finances and labors on this film, Alma finally loses patience with his roving eye and controlling habits with his actresses. When an ambitious friend lures her to collaborate on a work of their own, the resulting marital tension colors Alfred’s work even as the novel’s inspiration haunts his dreams.
The cast included a long list of Hollywood A-list actors who played their roles with Hitchcock-ian precision. Anthony Hopkins looked the part… unfortunately he did such a great job of looking uncomfortable, that watching him was uncomfortable.
Another complaint was the pacing. There were long stretches where the film dragged on and everything seemed to slow down. I have to believe that Hitchcock himself would be furious at how slow this film moves.
When my wife (a huge fan of the horror/suspense genre) and I sat down to watch this one, we were hoping for new insights and new discoveries about one of Hollywood’s most famous directors. There are no surprises, no twist endings and no suspense. It’s a boring story about a fascinating man who made a fascinating movie. Unfortunately Hitchcock the film is just an “Only If Free” movie.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
One of the biggest issues in filming Psycho involved the famous shower murder scene, and nudity is often discussed but no nudity is seen.
Hitch imagines talking with Ed Gein, the actual murderer that Psycho is based on. We see Ed cuddle with his dead mother’s body, which is seen decayed, old, and slightly bloodied. We also see Ed drag a dead body into a bathtub that comes to life in one of Hitch’s dreams.
There is one misuse of Jesus’ name and one mingling of God’s name.
CONVERSATION STARTER
- From the very beginning what was the biggest obstacle that Hitchcock had to overcome? (No one believed in him.)
- How did he handle that?
- Have you ever felt like giving up?
- What was happening to make you feel like that?
- Read 2 Chronicles 15:7
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.And Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.How could those verses encouraging you this week?
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.