Adapted from a French novel, Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thriller was generally overlooked when it was first released in theaters, but in time has come to be regarded as one of the legendary director's finest works. Operating outside of his wheelhouse as a populist entertainer, Hitchcock delivers a twisting narrative bursting with themes of love, loss and obsession. Renowned 'nice guy' actor James Stewart gives an emotionally complex performance that ranges from the terrified to outright rage, while Kim Novak is equally hypnotic in both of her roles. Similarly, Bernard Hermann's iconic score becomes increasingly integral to the plot while Hitchcock himself deploys his full arsenal of camera tricks, including the audacious reverse dolly zoom that instantly became known as the 'Vertigo shot'. From Saul Bass' dizzying opening credits to the remarkably downbeat ending, Vertigo delights in subverting expectations, especially in making the big reveal two-thirds of the way through the movie. Part love story, part murder-mystery, Vertigo is often chilling and disturbing while remaining grippingly entertaining. A surrealist experiment masquerading as a crowd-pleasing suspense movie, Hitchcock's meditation on romantic delusion and the nature of appearances is one of the greatest and most unpredictable thrillers ever made.
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