Do You Like Hitchcock? – original title: Ti piace Hitchcock? – is a 2005 Italian television giallo thriller film directed by Dario Argento. It stars Elio Germano, Chiara Conti, Elisabetta Rocchetti, Cristina Brondo and Ivan Morales and features a score by Pino Donaggio (Tourist Trap; Dressed to Kill; The Black Cat).
Plot teaser:
In 1990, as a boy, Giulio was chased through the woods by two women after spying on them practicing witchcraft. Now a young film student in Turin, he watches his neighbors in the flats across from his third floor apartment, especially Sasha when she’s naked or arguing with her mother. Giulio’s girlfriend is disgusted with his voyeurism, but, after a murder occurs, Giulio is convinced that two relative strangers, just as in Hitchcock and Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, have agreed to murder each other’s bête noir. He follows his suspects, ends up with an intruder and a broken foot, and may be in real danger. Is he more than a peeping Tom?
Aside from Strangers on a Train (1951) and Dial M for Murder (1954), there are several references to Hitchcock films in this movie: the attempt to murder Giulio in the shower is a reference to the famous scene from Psycho (1960), the protagonist’s broken leg and window-peeping are a reference to Rear Window (1954), and the scene on the roof is very similar to the ending of Vertigo (1958).
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Reviews:
“Do You Like Hitchcock? is an ambitious attempt by Dario Argento to deconstruct the narrative trappings of the giallo genre and to question the nature of voyeurism. It is, at the same time, a bloody and bare chested romp with plenty of twists. While no way his best work, it is no doubt an interesting little experiment.” Horror Digital
“The scenes that are the most appealing in the film are the ones in which Giulio spies on the various characters who are integral to the murder mystery. It is amazing what Argento is able to achieve when one considers that it was made for television. Overall Do You like Hitchcock? is daring and provocative film that exceeded my expectations.” 10,000 Bullets
“Had Do You Like Hitchcock? carried the name of an unknown director, its reputation would be sturdier, perhaps as something of a minor gem. With Argento at the helm, however, expectations unfairly raise the bar. While there is no way this one can compete on the level of his early works — the so-called “animal trilogy,” in particular — it is a satisfying thriller exuding real love for the movies and the voyeurism they inspire.” Flick Attack
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