Member review

In classic Hitchcock style, Rear Window is suspenseful beyond measure. The film tells the story of L.B Jeffries (James Stewart) who is confined to a wheelchair and unable to leave his New York apartment, as he investigates what he and his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly) believe to be a murder.

Hitchcock leans into, and exploits, our natural curiosity as an audience to make us understand Jeffries fixation on his neighbours as he tells a story of a voyeuristic creep, yet somehow make him the good guy. This also creates a sense of paranoia as you are extremely aware that you are witnessing something you shouldn’t be - the private life of the antagonist, Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr). Despite this, the plot feels fresh and is very intriguing, as Hitchcock avoids the trap of making it too slow paced to the point of it being painful. The soundtrack adds to the suspense and the single set makes you feel wrapped into the lives of Jeffries and his neighbours.

The only issue I have with tis feel is that it feels predictable. Without giving anything away, I felt as though I could see the ending coming from a mile away, and as a viewer I like an element of surprise.