Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Revenge
I was reminded this week by FS: SVU that Hitchcock not only had movies, but also shorts on television he directed. In fact, in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, he directed 17 episodes. They aren't all available, but some are and this is more my speed right now, as I have more time for a short than a full length feature.
Admittedly, a half hour thriller is too short of a time for a thriller, generally. Take the short, Revenge. Newlyweds move to California from the midwest because the wife had a breakdown. She needs some rest, and Los Angeles in the 50s is much more restful than the present day. So they move into an RV park, next to Andy Griffith's Aunt Bea, and try to settle in. That is, until the wife is attacked...
It's fine, and there is a moment that is worthy of Hitchcock, using shadows well. But for the most part this film isn't anything special. It just needs more time. More time to weave in another interesting theme, more time to do some character development. It's a fine attempt, but it should really be an hour instead of 23 minutes.
3/5