A "criminally underrated" film by Alfred Hitchcock is hailed as his last "great" work but fans warn it's still shocking decades after its release. Frenzy (1972) tells the fictional story of a serial killer and rapist in contemporary London who turns the attention of authorities upon an innocent and down-on-his-luck former RAF serviceman.
It was based on Arthur La Bern's 1966 novel Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square, with the screenplay written by Anthony Shaffer. Hitchcock's penultimate film is held up by some fans as among his better films, with one writing on IMDb calling it the British director's “final masterpiece”. They added that Frenzy is the “final jewel in the Hitchcock crown, a film to rank among his best”.
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A second called it the celebrated filmmaker's "final underrated thriller", adding that it contains "enough flashes of brilliance to put it close and justify its position as 'the last great Hitchcock film'".
A third wrote: “The performances are strong, with Finch capturing Blaney's desperation and Foster delivering a disturbingly charismatic portrayal of the killer.
“"Frenzy" is a gripping and audacious thriller that highlights Hitchcock's adaptability and enduring talent, even in the later stages of his career.”
A fourth viewer said it's not among the director's strongest, but still singled it out for praise. They wrote that Frenzy "may not be among my favourite Hitchcocks like Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, Rebecca, Notorious and North By Northwest, but unlike Jamaica Inn, Under Capricorn and Topaz it's nowhere near among his weakest either".
"In fact I do consider Frenzy the best of his films post-The Birds. Maybe the ending is a little rushed, but although it is not going to be everybody's cup of tea it is one truly impressive film."
A Redditor on the r/criterion subreddit said the movie as “definitely the most criminally underrated Hitchcock film” and “probably his best 'Murder Mystery' after 'Psycho" (1960)'.
However, some questioned the gratuitous violence on show, with one viewer saying it comes alive "only in its cruelty", and another calling one shocking early scene "revolting".
Hollywood legend Michael Caine was reportedly among the doubters. Hitchcock was said to have been determined to have him as the central character, Robert Rusk, but the Alfie star was horrified by the role, saying: “He offered me the part of a sadist who murdered women and I won't play that. I have a sort of moral thing and I refused to play it and he never spoke to me again."
BBC Culture described the film as the most violent Hitchcock "ever made", adding that a rape and strangulation scene unfolds in "sickening detail" and "even from half a century's distance, it remains an excruciating watch".
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However, it goes on to say that fifty years on, "Frenzy remains a chillingly effective thriller and a curious bookend to the murderous saga which commenced with The Lodger", one of Hitchcock's earliest films.
"It is drenched in Hitchcockian verve, and, paradoxically, unlike anything he had made before," the outlet adds.
The film has an 18 certificate and deals with upsetting themes, including sexual violence, so viewer discretion is advised.
Frenzy is available to rent on buy on Sky Store, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.