Hitchcock's Villains: Murderers, Maniacs, and Mother Issues

by Eric San Juan, Jim McDevitt

The films of Alfred Hitchcock are appreciated for a variety of reasons, including the many memorable villains who menace the protagonists. Unlike so many of cinema’s wrongdoers, the Hitchcock villain was often a complex individual with a nuanced personality and neuroses the common person might not be able to relate to, but could at least understand. If such figures did not always elicit sympathy from the audience, they still possessed characteristics that were oddly appealing. And frequently, viewers found them more likable than the heroes and heroines whom they victimized.

In Hitchcock’s Murderers, Maniacs, and Mother Issues, authors Eric San Juan and Jim McDevitt explore a number of themes that form the foundation of villainy in Hitchcock’s long and acclaimed career. The authors also provide a detailed look at some of the director’s most noteworthy villains and examine how these characters were often central to the enjoyment of Hitchcock’s best films. Whether discussing Uncle Charlie in Shadow of a Doubt or Norman Bates in Psycho, the authors consider what attracted Hitchcock to such characters in the first place and why they endure as screen icons.

Intended for both casual and ardent fans of Hitchcock, this book offers insight into what makes villainous characters tick. While serious students will appreciate observations in Hitchcock’s Villains that will enhance their study of cinema technique and writing, general fans of the director will simply enjoy delving further into the minds of their favorite villains.

Genres: Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Horror

196 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2013

Reviews

[Neil]

This was amateurish, one of the weaker titles I've encountered as I prepare to give a Hitchcock talk for my work. The text in the first five chapters was highly repetitive and not particularly insightful.

[Jilles]

Interesting to read how well developed all the criminal characters are in Hitchcock's work.

[Jess Manchester]

I read this book because I want to talk about Hitchcock's films more than is probably healthy, and I don't want to be obnoxious, or annoying. This book helped me get my fix while my husband binge watched a show that bored me. I would have appreciated for the writers to go even deeper into the marrow of this subject, but they did a fine job.

[G. Salter]

The authors don't reference enough primary sources to back up their "Hitchcock is in his villains" thesis, but they present some interesting evidence from that perspective and thoughts on what makes his villains unique. Particularly interesting if you want to see what Hitchcock has in common with Patricia Highsmith, who wrote the novel Strangers on a Train.

[Robert Walrod]

While I found this book mostly disappointing, it does have a few good insights.

[Jimmy]

My wife and I have recently become fans of Hitchcock’s films so it was a delight to stumble upon this book in the library. I didn’t read this book because I am somehow morbid but because I think Hitchcock understands the depth and quirks of depravity more than most film makers in his life time and even film makers today. One thing that I appreciate about his film is how his villains are believable (not a cookie cut-out that is standard in many cheesy films); and if they are unbelievably horrendous, there is still something about them that reminds us of their humanity. For me being reminded of the humanity of Hitchcock’s villains doesn’t necessarily mean we should always sympathize with the villains (although sometimes Hitchcock does want us to go down that road) but the fact that they are more like us than we realize brings us to the uncomfortable realization that everyone’s sinful nature can make us depraved monsters, a truth that we might not like to admit. Ultimately I enjoyed Hitchcock’s film and this book for its observation that leads me to think more deeply of the Christian doctrine of total depravity.
This particular book is a collection of short chapters that explores Hitchcock’s themes in the way he portray his villains and also analysis of specific antagonists in his films. I’ve enjoyed the book’s analysis especially with how the writers point out things I missed when I watched them. I was blown away by the book’s take on the film Veritgo and the thesis that the protagonist Jimmy Steward is really the villain in the film. Vertigo is one of the more stranger films that I didn’t know what to make of it when I first saw it but after reading the book I do see the authors’ point that Jimmy Steward is really not the ex-detective police hero that the beginning of the movie made him out to be, especially with how controlling and selfish he is later in the movie.
Another aspect of the book that I appreciate is the exploration of Hitchcock’s fear of authority throughout his life that comes out in his film. In several films the police are not necessarily the villains but they are not necessarily friendly either. At times they can go after the hero in the film, mistaking them for villains such as in the movie Stranger on the Train. Having friends in law enforcement I think it is unfortunate that at times Hitchcock can present a far more sympathetic villain than he does of authority and those who enforce laws. At the same time I can appreciate Hitchcock’s observation that those who uphold the law are not perfect either, with their bumbling around and at times being down right wrong.
I wished the book could have explored more on the villainy of ideas. This constructive criticism is not meant to fault the book but also a compliment for the author’s approach of Hitchcock’s work from the angle of how ideology produces villain. Their discussion left me hungry for more exploration of this theme since I believe worldviews, philosophies, and various “isms” can produce moral monsters from what seem to be every day people. I appreciated the chapter that looked at this theme in the movie Rope.
In conclusion, I enjoyed the book. I have seen most of the films the authors discussed with the exception of two; it made me want to watch other films that was briefly mentioned but it also made me realize there are certain films that I’m glad I haven’t watch yet nor plan on watching because of how twisted it is. In some instance I believe it’s better not to watch it being act out before one’s eyes. I do recommend the book.

[Alyson]

Overview of Hitchcock's villains, with chapters focusing on most of the more famous of them. I feared this would be one of those deadly dull scholarly textbooky books, but it was actually quite a quick and enjoyable read. Guess I'm going to have to catch up on the few movies of his I haven't yet seen.