This absorbing study of Alfred Hitchcock’s work, illustrated with clips and skillfully edited around his key themes of escape, desire, loneliness, time and fulfilment, is an erudite delight brought to us by director Mark Cousins. From beyond the grave, we hear the voice of comic Alistair McGowan (a wonderful doppelganger) as the master pointing out techniques, resonances, images and meanings, pausing to check in with Cousins who answers off-mic: “Yes Mr. Hitchcock.” We see a varied array of Hitchcock’s characters, ecstatic or despairing. Could we ask for more?

UK 2022 (120 minutes)