High Anxiety
Directed by Mel BrooksA psychiatrist with intense acrophobia (fear of heights) goes to work for a mental institution run by doctors who appear to be crazier than their patients, and have secrets that they are willing to commit murder to keep.
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High Anxiety Ratings & Reviews
- RichyEOctober 21, 2025I caught High Anxiety on TV and it felt like Hitchcock had been hijacked by a comedy troupe with a fog machine and a punchline addiction. Mel Brooks wasn’t just spoofing suspense, he was lovingly dismantling it, scene by scene, with a wink and a scream. What struck me most was the tone, it wasn’t mean-spirited. Brooks clearly adored Hitchcock and this was his way of saying thanks: by turning suspense into silliness and fear into farce. On TV, it felt like a secret handshake between film nerds. A late-night transmission from the comedy underground. A neurotic, noir ish spoof that turns Hitchcock’s greatest hits into a vaudeville act. Watching it on TV felt like discovering a hidden reel of cinematic mischief, one that made me laugh, cringe and appreciate just how far Mel Brooks would go for a gag.
- NS_95May 30, 2025Classic
- Mister ArnMay 25, 2025I remember watching "High Anxiety" in the 70s and not enjoying it much. After seeing a special on Mel Brooks, I decided to try it again. While I loved his other parody movies, this one still didn't click. The humor fell flat, and Gene Wilder deserves more credit as a lead in the other Brooks films.
