Horror fans will appreciate: 10 scariest Alfred Hitchcock movies worth watching

The famous director Alfred Hitchcock once said that "there is no fear in an explosion, only in its anticipation." On August 13, 2024, the filmmaker would have celebrated his 125th birthday. It is to him that we are grateful for the cult horror films that have not lost their popularity to this day.

His name is associated with the emergence of the thriller genre and the concept of suspense, which means "uncertainty." The works of the film legend were distinguished from others by their disturbing atmosphere and a premonition of something terrible. If you're not familiar with Alfred Hitchcock's work yet, here are 10 of the British director's scariest films that are worth watching.

10th place - North by Northwest (1959)

One of Hitchcock's most famous films is also undoubtedly one of the easiest. Although the plot itself is not violent or frightening, North by Northwest explores the horror of being misunderstood. This movie is truly spectacular, and iconic scenes such as the "plane escape" and the "Mount Rushmore chase" still make my heart beat faster. "North by Northwest" is a great choice for people with a high sensitivity who like to watch something unnerving rather than creepy.

9th place - Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Charlie is a girl named after her uncle from the big city. She is very excited when he comes to visit her boring old hometown, but soon begins to suspect that her relative may be a murderer. In a sense, Shadow of a Doubt is a coming-of-age story about what we all experience at one point or another: the nightmare of realizing that your family members are just people... with flaws.

8th place - Rope (1948)

The Rope has it all: a real crime, homoerotic overtones, and star actors. The underrated bottle episode of the movie takes place in almost real time in a New York apartment. The antiheroes, Philip and Brandon, are gentleman scientists who live in the apartment like Bert and Ernie. After killing their friend in the first scene, they hide his body in a wooden chest and then throw a dinner party in the same room. The chest looms in the foreground almost throughout the movie, so what Rope lacks in traditional horror, it more than makes up for in painful dramatic irony.

7th place - Rebecca (1940)

Perhaps the most haunting of Hitchcock's films is Rebecca, which explores the eeriness of being the third wheel in a relationship with the dead ex-wife of an eccentric man. Rebecca de Winter, without literally appearing as a ghost, haunts everything in the Maderley estate, from the fluttering curtains to the sinister staff. The poor new Mrs. de Winter, no matter how hard she tries, simply cannot take her place.

6th place - Vertigo (1958)

This is one of the most visually appealing films on the list, with a carefully crafted color palette and crazy plots. However, the way Hitchcock distorts reality is truly terrifying. "Vertigo contains some of the first examples of the "puppet zoom" that would later be used in films like Jaws and Goodfellas to create a sense of unease. It also boasts an eerie score by Bernard Herrmann.

5th place - The Birds (1963)

The movie "The Birds" shows how pathetic man is in front of nature. The feeling of anxiety does not leave you when you see how quickly a flock of seagulls can peck out a person's eyes.

4th place - In case of murder, dial "M" (1954)

The movie, which is included in the list of the 250 best films according to IMDb, includes many tried and true Hitchcockian plot devices - adultery, financial problems and the creation of the "perfect murder" - but has even more twists and turns than some others in the ranking. Former tennis player Tony Wendice suspects his wife of infidelity and tries to kill her at the hands of an old friend.

3rd place - Strangers on a Train (1951)

Another movie about how a perfect murder went wrong. If you've ever traveled by airplane, train, or public transportation, you've probably experienced the sheer terror of a stranger trying to make small talk. Imagine that this stranger wants to chat about how cool it would be if each of you committed a murder for the other, because who would suspect that the murders of two strangers are connected? You'd probably get off the train shaking your head at how crazy he is, but what would you do if this psychopath kept his end of the bargain?

2nd place - Rear Window (1954)

Many of the director's fans consider Rear Window to be one of his best works. If you are one of those people who obsessively eavesdrop on conversations at other tables in restaurants, you will also like this movie. On the screen you will see the beauties Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart working together to solve a murder.

1st place - Psycho (1960)

Some legendary movies justify their popularity, and Psycho is one of them. It impresses with its terrifying scenes. This is by far Hitchcock's scariest movie, which laid the foundation for thousands of horror stories about a sad boy with a knife.

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