Giallo spotlight: "Frenzy"

Join Movie Club Member Kyle C. for the next movie in his giallo series.
Here's how it works:

1. We will be meeting at Dot's Cafe, 2521 SE Clinton St., on Sunday, December 14 from 4-6pm
2. Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece. (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet, streaming links below)

Movie Spotlight:

Set in the bustling, grimy streets of Covent Garden, Frenzy follows a down-on-his-luck ex-RAF pilot named Richard Blaney who becomes entangled in a series of brutal murders attributed to a serial killer dubbed the “Necktie Murderer.” As the bodies pile up, Blaney finds himself wrongly accused, triggering a desperate struggle to clear his name. The film explores Hitchcock’s classic motif of the “wrong man,” but with a darker, more visceral tone than his earlier works.

Connection to Italian Giallo Cinema:

• Stylized violence and sexual menace: Like Dario Argento’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Frenzy features graphic murder scenes that are both shocking and meticulously choreographed.
• Urban decay and moral ambiguity: The film’s London setting — full of pubs, alleyways, and fruit stalls — mirrors the seedy urban landscapes of giallo films, where beauty and brutality coexist.
• Psychosexual tension: Giallo often explores twisted desires and repressed urges, which Frenzy channels through its killer’s pathology and the discomforting intimacy of its camera work.
• Cinematic self-awareness: Hitchcock’s use of long takes, ironic humor, and camera withdrawal (notably in a scene where the camera backs away from a murder) reflects the kind of visual flair that giallo directors would adopt and amplify.

Some critics suggest Frenzy may have been Hitchcock’s subtle response to the rising wave of giallo films, particularly Argento’s early work. Whether intentional or coincidental, Frenzy feels like a bridge between Hitchcock’s legacy and the stylized horror-thrillers that followed.

Tips:

1. Haven't seen the movie before? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (Streaming Options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
2. I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
3. We'll decide on our next giallo movie to watch! Come with suggestions.

Are you not that familiar with the giallo genre? Read the Wikipedia entry to learn more. Is there a giallo you'd like to propose the group watch and discuss next? Here's a comprehensive list of Italian giallos along with films influenced by the genre. Maybe there's a film you've heard about but needed an excuse to watch--come join us for discussion & make a suggestion!

Coming to the group for the first time, but interested in movies previously watched & discussed? Here's a list of all previous giallos watched and discussed by the group (with group rating)!

On Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!