The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Collection: Vertigo (1958)

Who is one of the most influential directors of all time who helped the horror and thriller genres be taken seriously from a cinematic standpoint? Alfred Hitchcock. Few filmmakers are known to have such a distinct vision and cinematic voice. Hitchcock created some of the most dynamic and iconic shots in the history of cinema while delivering some of the most memorable twists in all of film history. From the 1920s to 1970s, Hitchcock crafted plenty of beloved and masterful films as well as a beloved television series. But there is one film that stands tall at the summit which has topped lists of the greatest films of all time. Vertigo. A story about a disgraced detective who is hired to follow a woman experiencing a connection to her tragic ancestor. But that is just the tip of the iceberg with this game-changing masterpiece from Hitchcock. 

What is the most influential element of Vertigo that has stood the test of time. Hitchcock created a completely new camera trick to capture a specific effect just for Vertigo. Dolly zoom is a two-dimensional technique that sees a combination of camera zoom and pushing/pulling the camera. The distortion that this combination of techniques creates is affecting and unnerving. Specifically for Vertigo, this is how Hitchcock created the vertigo effect that the protagonist, Scottie, sees when his fear of heights kicks in. This effect arrives within the first scene as Scottie hangs from a roof and his look down delivers a distorted effect that lasts with you. Plenty more classic films have taken this technique, including Steven Spielberg using it in the scene when Sheriff Brody sees the shark for the first time. Martin Scorsese even used it in Goodfellas. When you created a cinematic trick that Spielberg and Scorsese adopted, you know that it was influential. 

What does Vertigo represent for its genre and Hitchcock’s legacy? Vertigo is a perfected version of what Hitchcock was accomplishing for decades. Horror and thrillers were considered less than until a filmmaker like Hitchcock brought a fresh dose of legitimacy. Many thrillers and horror films up to this point were considered “B-movies” and lesser than. But Hitchcock crafted a thriller that won Best Picture way back into 1940 with Rebecca. A world-renowned director like Hitchcock took genre films like this seriously and brought them to life. Vertigo is a fascinating film that leverages some twisted psychological thriller elements that take a deep exploration of the human condition. Hitchcock elevated these elements with top tier filmmaking techniques and bold storytelling. An ambitious filmmaker at the height of his powers is the type of person who could tell a story like this and create a film that has become one of the greatest of all time. Vertigo might not be the film that tips the scales itself, but it is a representation of the impressive career of Hitchcock as it is his magnum opus. 

But what trend in thrillers did Vertigo help create? The erotic thriller with darker and more twisted relationships is a common place throughout film today. But back in 1958, this was not the type of film that was commonplace nor would it be one to become such an iconic legacy. Vertigo received much more of a mixed reaction when it debuted but over time would garner such a legacy and have such an influence over film. Hollywood is still discussing making a remake of Vertigo because it is still such an impactful story. Vertigo is not your standard romance as it is a darkly twisted experience full of lies, betrayal, and criminal intent. The story hits differently in the two halves but they are equally compelling. The first half is challenging because a man entrusted with following his friend’s wife starts falling in love with her. The power dynamic is uncomfortable but the dark mental state that Madeleine is in makes downright twisted. But in the second half when you realize that Scottie was being manipulated the whole time and his mental state is shattered. Now he is falling in love with a woman who looks like Madeleine but turns out to be the woman he fell in love with but in a much more twisted state. These types of romances come along all the time now but feel so derivative of incredible films like Vertigo. Hitchcock’s masterpiece is seen in the works of Brian De Palma as well as being a thematic foundation for Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys. Vertigo set the tone for darker, more twisted romances and thrillers to be more accepted and desired.

Just how powerful is the legacy of Vertigo? One of the most visually striking and engrossing sequences in film is the mental break that Scottie experiences that comes to life with bold, vibrant, and abstract visuals. Creative and bold, this decision stands out all these years later. The dolly zoom transcended the film and has been used throughout so many other iconic films. James Stewart delivers a complex and affecting performance, showing that he was still one of the best this late in his career. Kim Novak as Madeleine is one of the most mysterious and alluring femme fatales in all of cinema. The music from Bernard Herrmann is truly iconic and crafts such a defining and powerful atmosphere. Vertigo is the greatest film of one of film’s greatest artists. From the opening credits to the unnerving and tragic final shot, this is a wholly engrossing cinematic experience that is hard to deny.