Best Hitchcockian Thrillers You Need to Watch

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Alfred Hitchcock was truly a visionary director. So much so that his legacy leaves behind a descriptor: Hitchcockian. The English film director, screenwriter, and producer is dubbed the Master of Suspense. Among his 50+ films are classics such as “North by Northwest,” “Psycho,” and “Vertigo.” Aside from creating clever cinema, Hitchcock proved influential through pioneering cinematography and storytelling. Here are the best Hitchcockian films you need to watch!

Blue Velvet (1986)

David Lynch’s neo-noir cult classic “Blue Velvet” follows university student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) as he explores his voyeuristic tendencies. After discovering a severed ear while walking home, Beaumont is sucked into the seedy underbelly of the seemingly-idyllic Lumberton, North Carolina. Like many Hitchcock films such as “Rear Window” and “Vertigo,” David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet” probes the concept of scopophilia. Like “Vertigo’s Scotty (Jimmy Stewart), Beaumont is torn between being a wholesome college student and a pervert. Additionally, with its nightmarish elements, “Blue Velvet” embodies the strange dream sequences from Hitchcock’s “Spellbound.”

A Simple Favor (2018)

Hitchcock became known as the master of suspense. And 2018 thriller “A Simple Favor” is chock full of intrigue. It follows vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) as she befriends, then lives vicariously through, fellow mother and PR director Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). It’s ripe with twists and turns, along with plenty of dark humor. And, in particular, “A Simple Favor” features nods to “Rear Window” as well as “North by Northwest.” Smothers inserts herself in Nelson’s life, becoming a borderline stalker. Alfred Hitchcock’s signature thrillers were most often balanced out by dark comedy, and “A Simple Favor” captures this spirit wonderfully. It’s a juicy modern noir that’s marvelously acted, stylish, and spectacularly shot.

Foul Play (1978)

1978’s “Foul Play” pairs Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn in a side-splittingly hilarious romp. It’s a Hitchcock parody that plays up many of the more outlandish thriller cliches. On paper, the story succeeds as a captivating suspense film with heaps of humor thrown in. There’s even a clever MacGuffin, one of Hitchcock’s signature plot devices. Ultimately, “Foul Play” pays homage to while lampooning Alfred Hitchcock-era noir thrillers.

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

The Billy Wilder 1957 classic “Witness for the Prosecution” is so Hitchcockian that Alfred Hitchcock is often thought to be its director. Wilder’s film is clearly inspired by “The Paradine Case.” Indeed, “Witness for the Prosecution” shares quite a bit in common with Hitchcock’s “The Paradine Case.” Both movies feature law-heavy plots and even find Charles Laughton in similar roles. “Paradine” and “Witness” are so alike that they make for an excellent double feature.

Bound (1996)

Before “The Matrix,” The Wachowskis wrote and directed a neat little neo-noir thriller, “Bound” in 1996. Like many Hitchcock motion pictures, “Bound” pioneers inventive cinematography with quirky camera angles. It’s ripe with a Hitchcockian dark comedy while oozing a retro-modern style replete with art deco environments. Had Alfred Hitchcock directed movies in the ‘90s, something akin to “Bound” very well could have been the result. As a sort of calling card for “The Matrix,” “Bound” showcases many of the same techniques later implemented in the 1999 sci-fi cult classic.