The aim of this paper is to discuss the similarities between Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento’s techniques and their achievements in Cinema History Essays

The aim of this paper is to discuss the similarities between Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento’s techniques and their achievements in Cinema History Essays The aim of this paper is to discuss the similarities between Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento’s techniques and their achievements in Cinema History Essay The aim of this paper is to discuss the similarities between Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento’s techniques and their achievements in Cinema History Essay Essay Topic: Rear Window Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento are both recognized for their considerable contribution to the development of thriller and horror film genre. It is widely believed that Dario Argento’s style was to a certain degree shaped under the influence of Alfred Hitchcock, thus apparent similarities in their style should hardly elicit surprise. Argento admits this fact in his film ‘Do You Like Hitchcock?’ which has excessive references to Hitchcock works, such as ‘Rear Window’, ‘Marnie’ and ‘Strangers on a Train’; in addition, it features a violent scene in a shower that immediately reminds of Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’. Argento is often referred to as ‘the Italian Hitchcock’. However, there the discussion endures concerning the degree of influence Hitchcock exerted on Argento: ‘Although many articles and reviews refer to him as a disciple of Hitchcock, Argento himself traces his origins to the ‘Poe’ films of Roger Corman and is also quick to acknowledge the inspiration to be found in the early films of Fritz Lang where one sees the nightmarishly surreal quality in which our so-called modernity has mired us’ (Onesheetindex.com, 2007, para.6). Therefore, there is a need for an unbiased analysis of similarities and differences in Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento’s style and manner. Both directors receive credit from the audience and film critics for the masterful use of suspense. The tension in their film builds up gradually though subtle hints and allusions, creating an atmosphere of hidden anxiety, terror, and paranoia. Scenes of violence are present in the films of both Argento and Hitchcock, and these scenes are usually shocking and vile. However, violence on the screen has never been the central preoccupation of any of these directors; instead, such scenes are merely a culmination of psychological or mysterious experiences of characters. Both directors relied on the skillful use of humor in their films. While Argento put an emphasis on humor in some of its films, e.g. ‘The Bird with the Crystal Plumage’, Hitchcock’s works almost always contain a good deal of what is called ‘gallows humor’. However, there are some differences in the directing style of Argento and Hitchcock. In certain films, Argento focused more on the means of artistic expression than the actual message of the film. For instance, in ‘Suspiria’ and ‘Inferno’ Argento resorts to purely surrealistic approaches and techniques. Hitchcock, in his turn, devoted greater attention to psychological subtleties and attempted to convey the innermost feeling and emotions of characters. Yet Argento also engaged in the investigation of psychological matters in some of his films, most notably ‘Deep Red’. Some critics notice Freudian influence in Argento’s early movies (Nashawaty, 2007), while Hitchcock based many of his works on psychoanalytical theories, mostly of Jacques Lacan. Yet Freudian themes are present in Hitchcock’s ‘Spellbound’ and in those films that feature an oppressive and restrictive mother figure. Making an overall conclusion, it is necessary to admit that Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Argento are among the best directors in Cinema History. Their contribution enriched not only horror and thriller genre, but world cinema in general. References Onesheetindex.com. 2007, ‘Suspira’, [Online] Available at: onesheetindex.com/movie_posters/horror/suspira_3948.html Nashawaty, Ch. 2007, ‘Curious Giallo’, [Online] Available at: ew.com/ew/article/0,,20006410,00.html nbsp; nbsp; nbsp;