Family Plot

A Genius Departs From Cinema

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: 1976

Rating: PG

Running Time: 115 mins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Actors: Bruce Dern, Barbara Harris, William Devane, Karren Black

Mystery, plotting, twists and suspense, it's good to see that before Alfred Hitchcock's career finally came to a close he was able to make one more stab at the genre he knew and created better than anyone.

After his films dropped slightly in the 60's for some of them,, particularly after Hitch finished 'The Birds'(1962). Films such as 'Marnie'(1963) and 'Torn Curtain'(1966) were good, as is everything the director has ever done, but they lacked the flair that audiences so long for when seeing a Hitchcock picture like  in films such as 'Rear Window'(1954) and 'Vertigo'(1958). It was clear that he was beginning to explore and experiment with new works, perhaps he knew he was be able to given the high profile and the trust with production companies and writers that he had managed to create  in the 1950's.

The thing with Hitch was that he's now known for making old films, but at the time they would have been seen as incredibly modern. Using, colour, advanced technology and exceptionally talented rising actors and audience favorites, Hitch was always known keeping up with the times. In the early 40's he was making films such as 'Saboteur'(1942) and 'Lifeboat'(1944), two film-noirs set during WWII, which at the time of their release was currently going on. 

Naturally when the late 60's came about, a lot of the topical issues were centered around the exportation and use of nuclear weapons and espionage that are themes, heavily placed in and centered around both 'Torn Curtain'(1966) and 'Topaz'(1969). Though they were both interesting films, they could equally be seen as some of his less successful pieces, and took place in more eastern European countries, consequently they felt more like '007' films than Alfred Hitchcock films. It probably began to look as though Hitch was unable to keep up making the films he use to release and had to try this different style because of this new era of cinema that was arising.

After the success of 'Frenzy'(1972), a murder mystery centered around a wrongly accused man set in 1970's London, it was good to see The Master of suspense return to his roots, both by location and narrative. With comedy, mystery and horror combined it's a real portrayal of what the great director is able to do best. This returning back such films he made previously such as 'Shadow of a Doubt'(1943) and 'Psycho'(1960), films about an unsuspected serial killer murdering helpless victims, it also featuring themes about blame falling on the wrong man similar to other works such as 'The Wrong Man'(1956) and 'The Trouble With Harry'(1955). Needless to say with 'Frenzy', the film did exceptionally well and inspired Hitch to go on and make one more before his career ended due to how he was able to give the audience again what they wanted.

With 'Family Plot', I found it the perfect film for Hitch to end his career with. It was embedded and enriched with everything that he was best known for and it returned to a genre that was beginning to slip away from Hitch's films.

For me, this is why 'Family Plot' was so needed. It gave a more nostalgic look back over Hitchcock's style, almost taking us back to the 40's and 50's, reminding us of how he earned the title of 'The Master of Suspense', but also gave it a chance to make a film that could hold it's own originality, still keeping up with the times. Albeit by this time Hitchcock was growing very old and both  him and his wife were growing very ill at the time, being the professionals they both were, they made the film any way and it gave Hitchcock a final opportunity to make one more of the pictures we so loved by him, riddled with mystery, twists and fast paced thrills.

Looking at 'Family Plot', it isn't one that could necessarily match the genius and flair that Hitchcock possessed in the 1950's, and is more likely one that audiences will not be as familiar with due to the fact it was entering an era of cinema that Hitchcock was not going to be around for. It can also be added Hitchcock wanted an entirely unknown cast, and wanted the location the film is set to be entirely unknown. But, it was still an incredibly clever and enjoyable film and moreover 'Family Plot' should be remembered due to the poignant and iconic fact that it was Hitchcock's last ever film. 

For this, it stands as one of my personal favorites that the director has made. It contained so many brilliant and inventive shots, high angles, close ups, tracking and so many others Hitch is known for, also a mysterious and captivating score composed by the brilliant John Williams, and most of all the overall feel given to the film was just so 'Alfred Hitchcock'. I'm sure myself and so many others are so grateful this film got made. There's so much I could say both about this film and Hitchcock's career, but what I will say is that, you left us on a good one Hitch, cheers for making one more.

7/10