Vertigo [PG]

John “Scottie” Ferguson, a retired acrophobic detective, is hired to trail a friend’s suicidal wife. After successfully rescuing her from a leap into the San Francisco Bay, Scottie finds himself becoming obsessed with the beautifully troubled woman and he promises to find the cause of her unsettled mind. But his investigation is about to reveal a bigger and more sinister plot. 

This is another timeless thrilling classic from the genius Alfred Hitchcock. Filled with plot misdirection, thrilling theories, forbidden romance, and great special effects, Vertigo is a wonderfully crafted thriller that chilled me even more than Psycho. Seriously, my spine is still tingling and my stomach, still churning.

John “Scottie” Ferguson is a detective who suffers from acrophobia: a strong fear of heights. His fear is heightened when he engages in a rooftop chase and slips. Holding on for dear life, his partner falls to his death trying to help him. Now Scottie is retired, but he is tracked down by an old friend and asked to trail his wife, whom he believes is possessed by a suicidal ancestor. After successfully rescuing Madeleine, the wife, from a fall into San Francisco Bay, Scottie finds himself becoming obsessed with the beautifully troubled woman and he promises to find the cause of her unsettled mind. But his investigation is about to reveal an even bigger and more thrilling plot that he never could have been foreseen.

I’m developing a keen interest in the film of Alfred Hitchcock. He truly is a master of terror. What made Vertigo so thrilling was the fact the whole thing is highly believable. The nauseating fear that comes from acrophobia mixed with the sudden shocks that the plotline holds causes large amount of spine-tingling and stomach-churning terror in the audience.
This is also the best film (that I’ve seen so far) of Hitchcock’s in regard to the use of special effects. The film uses simple effects such as animation, changes in colour, spiralling camera movement, and body-cropping (I’m sure there’s a technical film term for that) to convey the sheer terror that the characters experience. It’s wonderful.
The other thing that plays a great part in setting the mood of the film is the music. In all of Hitchcock’s films, music plays a very strong part in creating an atmosphere of suspense and fear. It’s absolutely awesome!
James Stewart stars as John “Scottie” Ferguson and his performance was absolutely outstanding. He went through a whole range of emotions in this film including charming, friendly, sincere, in love, passionate anger, and (obviously) sheer terror. I was hugging myself so tightly when he woke up all wide-eyed and stricken from that nightmare!  A very forceful and just outstanding performance.
Starring Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby, Konstantin Shayne, and Lee Patrick, Vertigo is a wonderful thriller filled with plot misdirection, romance, supernatural themes, primal fears, and heights. My favourite Hitchcock movie (so far).