Serial Killers in Alfred Hitchcock's Films
Uncle Charlie: "Are they? Are they, Charlie? Are they human or are they fat wheezing animals, hmm? And what happens to animals when they get too fat and too old?" (Shadow of a Doubt)
Bob Rusk, the rapist serial killer in Frenzy.
The serial killer was not a favourite motif for Alfred Hitchcock – quantitatively speaking – but the films in which they occur are all remarkable.
Serial Killers in Hitchcock Movies
The Lodger
The Avenger is serial killer who targets young blonde women.
Shadow of a Doubt
Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) is a serial killer known as the "Merry Widow Murderer". He seduces, murders and robs wealthy widows.
Psycho
When his mother found a lover, Norman Bates murdered both of them. He then stole his mother's corpse and preserved the body. He takes her identity and acts, talks, and dresses as she would. In the final scene, the sheriff mentions the unsolved disappearances of two other young girls.
Frenzy
Bob Rusk (Barry Foster) is a fruit merchant who rapes and strangles women.
Strangulation in Hitchcock films
The Lodger, 1926/1927
Number Seventeen, 1931/1932
The bum is "strangled" in the bathroom by Sheldrake
Secret Agent, 1935/1936
The organ player in Langenthal is strangled.
Sabotage, 1936
The film the boy soon to be bombed is carrying is "Bartholomew the Strangler"
Young and Innocent, 1937/1938
Christine (Pamela Carme) is strangled with a rain coat belt.
The Lady Vanishes, 1937/1938
Jamaica Inn, 1938/1939
The thiefs try to hang Jem suspecting him of stealing from the goods
Shadow of a Doubt, 1942/1943
Notorious 1945-46/1946
Rope 1948
David is killed with a rope.
Stage Fright, 1949/1950
The murderer (Jonathan) almost succeeds in strangling Eve Gill in the theatre.
Strangers on a Train, 1950/1951
Marion is strangled by Bruno.
Dial M for Murder, 1953/1954
Margo is almost strangled during the murder attempt.
Rear Window 1953/1954
Thorwald tries to strangle Jeff when they meet.
The Man Who Knew Too Much 1956
Torn Curtain, 1965-66/1966
Frenzy, 1971/1972
The rapist serial killer uses a necktie.