Official Synopsis:
Italian Master Of Horror Dario Argento - the director of Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebre and Opera - returns to the thriller genre with this sly and sexy tribute to The Master of Suspense. Elio Germano stars as Giulio, a nerdy film student and lifelong voyeur who begins to believe that two lovely young strangers may have conspired to commit a brutal murder. But when reel obsession leads to real danger, one question alone holds the key to terror: Do You Like Hitchcock? Elisabetta Rocchetti, Chiara Conti and Cristina Brondo co-star in this bold giallo co-written by Argento and Franco Ferrini (Phenomena, The Card Player), featuring a masterful score by Pino Donaggio (Dressed To Kill, Carrie, Trauma), gore effects by Sergio Stivaletti (Cemetery Man, Demons), and filled with the classic touches of two true masters!
Our Take:
Fans of the horror and suspense genres will drool over this delightful film based on a number of Hitchcockian themes. Director Dario Argento shows his true colors as he directs this tale of voyeurism, obsession, and murder. Many films have tried this equation in the past, and most have failed miserably. These past films have copied many of their plots and story elements directly from the old Hitchcock movies but failed to do them justice. Do You Like Hitchcock? is a horse of a different color; it tells the viewer flat out that what you are about to see is ripped from Hitchcock. What makes this film work as opposed to others is that it stays true to the genre and respects it.
Elio Germano gives a wonderful yet harrowing performance as Giulio, the Hitchcock-obsessed film student that gets caught up in a story of mystery and intrigue. He travels through the film first as a naïve student, then as a man that will stop at nothing for the truth. All of the other cast members play their roles equally as well.
Before watching this film I had very limited knowledge of Hitchcock and his library of work. By the end the film, I was energized to see and learn more of what Hitchcock was all about. I also found a new appreciation for Dario Argento. This film is not a mindless gorefest; it is a smartly written piece that delves into some very dark places of the human mind.
Liking the film so much, I was eager to see any special features on the DVD, but I was disappointed to only find one behind-the-scenes featurette. It explains a lot but I was thirsty for so much more.
* Do You Like Hitchcock?: Backstage (6 minutes) - A featurette that just scratches the surface of what the film is about.
Do You Like Hitchcock? is an awe inspiring thriller that forces you to watch what evils lurk in men… and women for that matter. Rent this one if you are a fan of Hitchcock, Argento, or both.
Overall Picture:
Movie: A
DVD: C+
- Stan Nowak
Staff Writer
|
|
