First off I would like to thank my mother for inspiring me to write this blog post. What's the sound we all try to imitate when we're referring to someone who is a
psycho? Come on you got this....I kind of gave you the answer so if you guess wrong I'm going to be a little concerned for ya.....phew, okay good you got it! The famous screeching of the strings in the infamous thriller classic
Psycho directed by the one and only man who can make everyone tremble simply with a shower curtain, Alfred Hitchcock. Today is his birthday and I am a very big fan of this classic film genius! Luckily, this year at school, I was able to take a class called Music In Film so naturally we were bound to study Hitchcock films and his partnership with the brilliant film composer Bernard Herrmann. Combine the chilling strings with the creepy shadow that slowly approaches the shower curtain and you have an instant thriller that will leave people sitting on the edge of their seats....well I know I was sitting on the edge of my seat! As a regular 21 year old, of course I love the occasional scary movies. Not gory because I just don't think all that is necessary but put a thriller on the TV or movie theater screen and I am there in a heartbeat! Along with the movie
Psycho, my other favorite Hitchcock film is
Rear Window.....oh sweet mother of God that movie sends chills up my body every time I watch it and the thing is the WHOLE movie takes place in an apartment looking out of a window!....and the light bulb comes on now realizing why the movie is called
Rear Window, okay now we're all on the same page....That blows my mind! The man is a genius I mean the fact that the movie takes place in this apartment the whole time and it never gets boring, in fact it is one of the most suspenseful movies I myself have ever watched. That moment when the villain realizes the hero has figured out his crime and he slowly turns and makes direct eye contact with the eavesdropping binoculars (and audience) in the window across the street......everyone in the audience begins to think something along the lines of "oh crap, Oh Crap, OH CRAP!!!" Along with that, this whole movie has no suspenseful music....just silence. Everyone is uncomfortable with silence. It signifies the unknown and the fact that anything can happen and you wouldn't know. In my opinion, the silence in this movie is the true thriller. This proves how genius this man truly was as a film director. The fact that a quick moment of eye contact combined with complete silence as you hear the slow footsteps coming up the stairs can make the audience shift in their seat and hold their pillow even tighter to the point of squeezing the stuffing out or throwing the popcorn out of your hand as you jump out of your seat. As I end this post, I urge you all to go out and find this Hitchcock classic, or any of his films for that matter and experience the thrill and suspense that makes him the famous director he is. Appreciate the stilling silence and chills that will soon follow because the silence is the true thriller. Happy birthday Alfred Hitchcock and thank you for the amazing movie experiences you have provided for me and generations to come. Now if you'll excuse me, a classic movie night is calling my name and don't worry I'll keep you posted!
