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Frenzy
1972 116 min United Kingdom R 16+
★7.8
Crime, Thriller, Horror
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
🎭 Based on
«Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square»
byArthur La Bern
Trailers
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Description
London is terrorized by a vicious sex killer known as The Necktie Murderer. Following the brutal slaying of his ex-wife, down-on-his-luck Richard Blaney is suspected by the police of being the killer. He goes on the run, determined to prove his innocence.
Budget:
$2M
Worldwide:
$12.6M
Starring
Jon Finch
Actor
Barry Foster
Actor
Barbara Leigh-Hunt
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1973
— Best Picture (Drama)
Golden Globe 1973
— Best Director
Golden Globe 1973
— Best Screenplay
Golden Globe 1973
— Best Original Score
Key opinion
Alfred Hitchcock's late-career thriller is widely praised for its dark, cynical humor and evocative London setting, though it remains a divisive entry in his filmography. While many celebrate its suspenseful set-pieces and psychological boldness, some critics argue the plotting feels predictable and the execution lacks the finesse of his earlier masterpieces.
| Humor | The film utilizes dark, sardonic humor to balance its grim subject matter, particularly through scenes involving the Inspector's wife. | |
| Production | The London setting provides an authentic, vivid backdrop that enhances the atmosphere of the narrative. | |
| Theme | The film's tone is polarizing: some appreciate its cynical, blunt exploration of perversion, while others find the aesthetic 'tacky' or 'vulgar'. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure—revealing the killer early to focus on the frame-up—is hailed by some as a masterclass in suspense, while others find it predictable and lacking in mystery. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is contested, with some finding it relentlessly tense and others describing it as sluggish or failing to sustain excitement through to the end. | |
| Direction | The direction is viewed as either a bold, gritty return to form or a decline in quality compared to Hitchcock’s classic 1960s output. |