Rear Window
Rear Window
Professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined to his New York apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbors. He begins to suspect that a man across the courtyard may have murdered his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his high society fashion-consultant girlfriend Lisa Fremont and his visiting nurse Stella to investigate.
Mike reviewedOctober 11, 2024
Rear Window is a very mysterious and intriguing film, that makes you eager to find out the truth
" That's no ordinary look. That's the kind of look a man gives when he is afraid somebody might be watching him."
This film has a pretty simplistic story, but Alfred Hitchcock managed to create a very interesting plot that is supported by great cinematography and interesting characters. A plot that intrigues the viewer into finding out the truth, just like the protagonist is trying to do.
Alfred Hitchcock is known for his creation of suspense in his films... and Rear Window is not shy of that either. The suspension increased the closer you came to finding out the truth. Alfred Hitchcock didn't get the nickname the 'Master of Suspense' for no reason, so you can already imagine how high the suspense got when it was at its peak. The suspense, mystery and interesting characters are the key aspects to why I love this film so much.
I really liked the fact that the characters were actually smart and had intriguing dialogue. They all had strong arguments and counter arguments as to why someone would be guilty or innocent of murder, creating hesitation and suspicion that kept the mystery alive. This film makes you doubt the characters, their actions and it even makes you doubt if the things you saw or heard are actually true. All this hesitation and suspicion made me very eager to find out the truth.
The cinematography is everything you would expect from Alfred Hitchcock. You get to see what Hitchcock wants you to see, and you don't get to see what Hitchcock doesn't want you to see. This control of the cinematography complements the story and plot so well, that the film manages to hold your full attention from beginning to end. Every scene visualizes the mysterious elements the protagonist experiences, by placing the viewer into the mental and physical perspective of him. This way the protagonist isn't the only one trying to solve the murder mystery, the viewer is too.
Rear Window wasn't the first Hitchcock film that I have seen, that one goes to Psycho, which I also really liked. Rear Window is, for me personally, a prime example as to why Alfred Hitchcock deserves to be called the 'Master of Suspense'.
Letterboxd: Mike_v_E