What influence does Alfred Hitchcock have on the film industry?
Virtually any suspense movie draws upon the techniques used by and usually first developed by Alfred Hitchcock. A good one is “The Bourne Identity” (2002). It has more action than most Hitchcock movies but has lots of suspense and surprise together with an active chase which he often used. Watch how the story is told visually: the cutting and how the main character’s point of view is used to make the audience feel like a participant in the movie. Also notice how the audience often knows more about the dangers than the characters. Listen to how the tempo and type of music raises the suspense. For an excellent overview about Hitchcock’s influence on the industry, look for the documentary “In the Master’s Shadow – Hitchcock’s Legacy” (2008). You will find it on the new two DVD reissue of Psycho (1960) – Universal (USA, 2008).
