Frenzy

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Frenzy

R

Released Jun 21, 1972

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

78%

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10,000+ Ratings

London is held in the grip of a serial killer whose modus operandi is to murder his victims by strangling them with a necktie. When short-tempered ex-Royal Air Force officer Richard Blaney (Jon Finch) discovers his ex-wife (Barbara Leigh-Hunt) murdered, Blaney becomes a suspect. Forced to go on the run, Blaney attempts to take refuge with his best friend, fruit merchant Bob Rusk (Barry Foster), however Rusk may, in fact, be the necktie murderer himself.

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Critics Consensus

Marking Alfred Hitchcock's return to England and first foray into viscerally explicit carnage, Frenzy finds the master of horror regaining his grip on the audience's pulse -- and making their blood run cold.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

There is also a sort of sabertoothed gentility that [Hitchcock] greatly relishes, and no one else in the commercial cinema uses savage silence so well.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Penelope Houston

Sight & Sound

Once a Londoner, always a Londoner. Hitchcock's return to home ground, twenty-two years after Stage Fright, is a remarkable performance in most senses of the word.

May 13, 2020

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

In case there was any doubt, back in the dim days of Marnie and Topaz, Hitchcock is still in fine form. Frenzy is the dazzling proof.

May 13, 2020

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

For a modern audience, Frenzy impresses as another example of expert Hitchockian terror and humor, but it disappoints in many particulars.

Jun 11, 2025

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Howard Waldstein

CBR

Frenzy is, pound for pound, one of the auteur's greatest achievements.

Jul 18, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Somewhat lacking for Hitchcock, despite its fascinating deviations from his usual projects.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 29, 2020

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Sergio A

No one handles suspense like Hitchcock, that’s a fact, and this film proves it. While some scenes feel rushed and the characters aren’t fully developed (which somewhat limits the emotional impact), it successfully blends comedy, suspense, horror, and stunning cinematography. Highly recommended.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

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Steven M

This is a very fine Hitchcock film that, unfortunately, doesn’t get the love that it should.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

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thiago s

filme bacana, o roteiro legal, o final muito bom que trata de um matador e estrupador de mulheres, e tem uma história interresante, Alfred Hitchcock fez uma direção boa.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/15/24

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Alec B

Perhaps the only time Hitchcock was able to go as far as he wanted. That being said the reason to see this is for Shaffer's darkly witty screenplay.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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Pam B

Not quite up to the standards of his masterpieces but wonderful to see a quality Hitchcock I hadn't seen before!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/15/23

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Josh G

A dark and forbidding tone of Hitchcock bringing the wrong man thriller into the 1970's. It has style and presence with an excellent cast lead by Barry Foster. The Score leads a simply but effect suspenseful film and climaxes in satisfy conclusion. This is the way to make a 70's thriller from the old guard.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/23

Full Review

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Jon Finch

Richard Ian Blaney

Barry Foster

Robert Rusk

Barbara Leigh-Hunt

Brenda Margaret Blaney

Anna Massey

Barbara Jane "Babs" Milligan

Alec McCowen

Chief Inspector Oxford

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Synopsis

London is held in the grip of a serial killer whose modus operandi is to murder his victims by strangling them with a necktie. When short-tempered ex-Royal Air Force officer Richard Blaney (Jon Finch) discovers his ex-wife (Barbara Leigh-Hunt) murdered, Blaney becomes a suspect. Forced to go on the run, Blaney attempts to take refuge with his best friend, fruit merchant Bob Rusk (Barry Foster), however Rusk may, in fact, be the necktie murderer himself.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Arthur La Bern, Anthony Shaffer
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 1972, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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