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Overall Rating : 7/10
Directed By : Dario Argento
Elio Germano
Chiara Conti
Elisabetta Rocchetti (The Card Player)
Cristina Brondo
Supplied By : Anchor Bay Entertainment
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Aug. 17, 2006
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| PLOT Giulio, a nerdy film student and lifelong voyeur 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? |
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| THE REVIEW In DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK?, young film enthusiast Giulio, has always had a curious side and ever since childhood he has been a voyeur. There is an attractive young lady named Shasha that lives across the street in which he often spies on her and also eavesdrops on the arguments she has with her mother. Well one day as fate would have it, Giulio, sees through his trusty binoculars not a beautiful body...but a brutal murder! Giulio seemingly traumatized by what he sees is determined to crack the case....he narrows it down to Shasha and her new lady friend Federica in which she meets at the video store often renting titles by Alfred Hitchcock - in which she shares a liking. To Giulio the admiration is something more than just a coincidence after awhile, he believes the murder of Shasha's mother is art imitating life and that the women have agreed to kill on the other's behalf - just like in their favorite film, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.... DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK? is no less Dario Argento's letter of admiration to the great Alfred Hitchcock. Argento's film style is obviously inspired by Hitchcock, so this is his way of giving thanks - and what a great way to do so. It great seeing the "fan side" of a Horror great and there are not enough times in my opinion that we see such. What is presented here is a film that takes an Hitchcock film plot (STRANGERS ON A TRAIN) and puts it in a real life situations for the characters - as if what happens in the Hitchcock film is happening in there real life( all the while happening in their film for us viewers). Incorporating the notion of two beautiful strangers who happen to share the love for STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, who plot to mimic their favorite movie is genius. This film is one part murder mystery, one part slasher but it ends up being one well rounded piece of filmmaking. Our unsung hero here, Giulio is this nerdy film geek that loves Hitchcock and also loves to be voyeuristic and often spies on the hot woman that lives across the street for him, from afar via his window - an obvious tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW - and often the center piece of this film and works very, very well. The thing about this film is that there is really no mystery as to the killers identity as Giulio is right on the case with his impeccable. knowledge of Hitchcock as he catches on quickly, but somehow Argento, weaves a rather solid story here to consists of him catching them in the act - but not without a few twists and and maybe a few false conclusions. The acting here is pretty good, I have no complaints at all. Elio Germano as Giulio, is somewhat likeable but very believable, in a Sherlock Holmes kinda way, when he could have easily been very annoying - thank God he is not. I also found myself liking the character of Andrea, played by Iván Morales. Andrea is the video store owner and he is like the cross point of every character in the film as he is one of the reasons in which they are all connected.....the movies the rent. Elisabetta Rocchetti and Chiara Conti offer us two characters by the names of Shasha and Federica that are seemingly up to something....as Giulio suspects them for the slaying of Shasha's mother eventually. This two ladies are very attractive and keep the audience looking on and rightfully so - if they were homely, would we care? I doubt it.... DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK? was a made for TV film that aired in Europe so, it's not the same intensity you are used to from Dario Argento, but in my eyes this film is one of the Italian master's best.....and in the end is one applaudable tribute to one that inspired him. |
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| GORE
METER 4/10 Sort of tame for Argento, but noting the circumstances, it's understandable. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 5/10 I have always been a fan of Pino Donaggio's work ever since I saw TOURIST TRAP, in which that score was quirky but amazing at he same time. I really liked this score as it wasn't always serious and the same kind of fun.... |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM I really liked this film and it was a lot better than I expected at first. I am a big fan of Dario Argento, and consider him one of the best Horror Directors of all time. If you have yet to see an Argento film for yourself, this would be the one to do so for the casual viewer, right behind my Argento favorite the great SUSPIRIA. |
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