HITCHOLOGY: A film-by-film guide to the style and themes of Alfred Hitchcock

by Neil Alcock

Murder! Mothers! Men on the run!

Film fans know these are just a few key ingredients of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies. When Hitchcock fused these elements with his innovative directorial approach, that blend of familiar themes and stylistic ingenuity became known as ‘Hitchcockian’. In a refreshingly original way, HITCHOLOGY considers how Hitchcock used these narrative tropes and formal flourishes to create some of cinema’s most unforgettable experiences.

Alongside unique takes on every film and TV episode Hitchcock directed, HITCHOLOGY also examines his collaborators, his cameos, other films in the Hitchcock cinematic universe, and more. Passionately written with wit and warmth, HITCHOLOGY is an accessible introduction for newcomers to Hitchcock, and an insightful companion for devoted fans.

“Incisive, fresh and thunderingly entertaining, this is a Hitchcock book unlike anything else out there. Neil Alcock is the master of the Master of Suspense”
- Nick de Semlyen, editor-in-chief, Empire magazine

“I feel like I've discovered Hitchcock all over again”
- Ali Plumb, film critic, BBC Radio 1

“Fresh, funny and illuminating... a refreshingly different approach to Hitchcock. ★★★★”
- Empire

“Endearing, insightful and literally laugh out loud funny, HITCHOLOGY is an essential guide to Hitchcock. ★★★★★”
– HeyUGuys

“Conversational in tone yet brimming with knowledge, it’s a quality read for both fans and neophytes. ★★★★”
– Total Film

Genres: Film, Media Tie In

380 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2024

About the author

Neil Alcock has been watching, reading, thinking and banging on about Alfred Hitchcock since first studying his films at college over 30 years ago. Since 2011 he has been a freelance film writer for Empire magazine, Film4.com, Virgin Movies and more. He has appeared on national and local BBC radio programmes, and on podcasts including Radio 1’s Screen Time, the Empire podcast and the 90 Minutes Or Less Film Fest, to talk about Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, James Bond and film in general. He lives in north London with his wife and chickens.

To see some of Neil’s work, visit neilalcock.com

Reviews

[John Bleasdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for Hitchologists

[Buddy Scalera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, well-written overview of all 52 of Hitchcock's films. It offers honest reviews of the films and gives credit to Hitch's collaborators. (Lesson: Not all of Hitchcock's films were good.)

The format is logical with each film getting a chapter, and all chapters are about the same length. The bonus chapters dive behind the scenes to explore additional concepts in a way that people can understand, versus books that expect readers to be film scholars.

Although I've seen many of the popular films, the book has given me a roadmap for other films that I haven't seen yet.

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely one for Hitch fans. Entertaining essays on all the man’s films (even the lost one). Tends towards the glib in some places, but funny more often than not. It made me want to rewatch those I’d seen and seek out the few I hadn’t.

[Jason Wippich · Rating 4 out of 5]

More honest recaps - what I’ve been seeing in many of the recent books. It’s refreshing not just to put everything Hitch did and directed on a pedestal. We watched Dial M For Murder here at the beach last night to celebrate this book.

[Angel Rua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for any Hitchcock fan!

[Raymond Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and fresh summary of Hitchcock's films. My favourite: Rear Window.

[Dennis Sisterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the author asks the reader to post a review here at the end of the book, I'm happy to oblige. Despite its academic-sounding title, this is a fun, lightweight assessment of every one of Hitchcock's films - plus a few bonus digressions - of three or four pages on each film. The author has a witty, engaging style, further enhanced by his love of his subject, and thoughtfully places a spoiler alert ahead of each chapter that features one (not too many) - very useful, as there are still a couple of Hitch's films I haven't seen. Densely informative, and very enjoyable - like having a good old chat with a fellow film buff.