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Frenzy

Frenzy (1972)

May 25, 1972 1h 56m Crime Thriller Horror

London is terrorized by a vicious sex killer known as The Necktie Murderer. Following the brutal slaying of his ex-wife, down-on-his-luck Richard Blaney is suspected by the police of being the killer. He goes on the run, determined to prove his innocence.

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Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

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Crew

Director
  • Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
  • Alfred Hitchcock

Reviews

John Chard
8/10

Chillingly humorous Hitchcock piece of work.

It's always great to take a revisit to Frenzy some years after your last viewing, to re-evaluate it post haste. As a proud Englishman it gives me great pleasure to see the Master back in England capturing the English time frame of London perfectly, for the film works because we really get the vibe of the place and believe in the characters who frequent the area, Hitch delivers this no problem at all.

The story stands up as genuine thriller material, some crazy fruit loop is strangling women with neck ties and the police are trailing the wrong man...Sound familiar? Well yes it is, but Hitch being Hitch, he manages to bring dashes of humour to go with the tense taut terror unfolding on the screen.

The cast do fine here, and I do believe that the fact that none of the actors are top draw names actually helps the film bring out an uneasy feel, here the interesting fleshing of the characters is one of Hitchcock's great strengths in this particular piece. The villain of the piece stands up as one of the best because he could easily be your best mate, someone you readily turn to in times of need, yet strip away that facade and you get the savage murdering rapist that Hitchcock takes great delight in assaulting our eyes with.

Lovely...Lovely...LOVELY....LOVELY !

Although its rating on the IMDb movie site hovers around 7.5 I have always been led to believe that Frenzy wasn't all that well thought of, with tales of America refusing to embrace the film because of the London sensibility, and tired old arguments about the great man being past his peak etc. I have no idea if any of those statements are true? But what I personally know is that Frenzy is a very good film that has me squirming and laughing in equal measure. So with that it may just be shy of being a Hitchcock classic, but still it stands up as better than what most other thriller directors could ever have hoped to have achieved back in that era. 8/10

Aug 30, 2020

DalekDave01

This is one of those thrillers that is in no way a whodunnit as it becomes evident very early on that the killer is who you think it is going to be.
But that is not sloppy film making, it is entirely deliberate, for the mystery here is not who is the killer, but will he get away with it, and what will happen to our hero?
It is a well plotted piece, and, oddly, based on a true story.
[see Jack The Stripper - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammersmith_nude_murders]

Some fine performances from good, steady actors, all giving well rounded characterisations, especially Barry Foster and Billie Whitelaw.

The general feel of London in the early 70s is well presented, and the locations are well chosen to give the overall viewing of the film a very satisfactory glow.

Not one of Hitchcocks classics, to be fair, but still a great film and one that will certainly entertain.

Mar 5, 2021

CinemaSerf
7/10

This is probably my least favourite Hitchcock story. It is still cleverly constructed, but somehow it has a vulgarity to it that I rather struggled with. The premiss is a serial killer who has been brutally killing women using a neck tie, then dumping their bodies. The police are baffled until "Brenda Blaney" (Barbara Leigh-Hunt) is found raped and killed in her office, and suspicion falls on her ex husband "Dick" (Jon Finch). He flees, is apprehended and judicial process takes it's course. We all know who actually killed "Brenda" so insofar as this is a murder mystery, then that's that. It is, though, quite a curious character study of the mind of a man who is jovial and engaging one moment, then brutally lethal the next - a sort of deadly schizophrenia that might be borne out of sexual frustration, or misogyny, childhood - all of the above? Barry Foster is efficient, if a little lightweight as "Rusk" and there are enthusiastic efforts from Anna Massey and pub landlord Bernard Cribbins. What raises this (slightly) above the norm, is the fun sub-plot between Alec McGowen ("Chief Insp. Oxford") and his wife Vivien Merchant - she a budding gourmet who seems intent on offering the poor man the most complex dishes when all he wants is pie and mash; and - as ever with Hitch - intimate and clever use of the camera. What suspense there is all comes to a rather weak head, I felt, and though this is still an eminently watchable film, it is all just a little bit tacky, and it lacks much that made it's director great. It might have worked better in black and white?

May 28, 2023

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Thematic Analysis

This Crime/Thriller/Horror film explores themes of fear and survival, delving into the psychological aspects of human nature when confronted with the unknown. Frenzy presents a unique perspective on the horror genre by focusing on the psychological terror rather than relying on typical jump scares.

Director Alfred Hitchcock brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.

Released in 1972, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its critical acclaim reflects its artistic achievements and its place in cinema history.

Did You Know?

  • The production of Frenzy took approximately 22 months from pre-production to final cut.
  • With a budget of $2.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
  • The final cut of the film runs for 116 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 148 minutes long.
  • The film contains approximately 2249 individual shots.
  • Some visual effects sequences took up to 4 months to complete.
  • The costume department created over 449 unique costume pieces for the production.

Historical Context

  • In 1972, when this film was released:
  • Environmental awareness was growing as a social concern.
  • The Watergate scandal changed public perception of political institutions.
  • The film industry was dominated by major studios, with independent cinema still in its early development.

How This Film Stands Out

While Frenzy shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.

Unlike Vengeance, which focuses more on action than character development, Frenzy offers a fresh perspective through its innovative visual language and narrative structure.

While films like RoomMate and Candyman: Day of the Dead explore similar territory, Frenzy stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.

This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.

Details

  • Release Date: May 25, 1972
  • Runtime: 1h 56m
  • Budget: $2,000,000
  • Revenue: $12,600,000

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