High Anxiety [Review]

Imagine birds flying ominously overhead in large droves, seeing the shadow of  a man beyond your shower curtain, feeling like you are being watched, trying to understand peculiar people secluded with you, are all concepts that have made Albert Hitchcock's classic films memorable and terrifying.  Mel Brooks, comedic writer, actor, director, and producer, delivers a delightfully funny parody of many Hitchcock classics in the film High Anxiety. Starring Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, and Mel Brooks himself, Brooks directs the satirical genius of this film.

The premise for the film is centered on a psychiatrist who is deathly afraid of heights. He finds himself in route to an institute full of mysterious people and patients to manage after the demise of the former manager. He later meets the daughter of one of the patients and is told of a diabolical plot (insert dramatic music). He must unravel the mystery and save his patient before it is too late (re-insert dramatic music). He must do it all while dodging pigeon droppings (insert anti-climactic music).

Brooks style of parody pays homage to the master of terror while still promoting the ridiculous plot development of the movie. The characters are stereotypical of Hitchcock films but each have their own interesting Mel Brooks quirk. Cloris Leachman's character, for instance, is a strict 'by the books nurse' with an affinity for bondage.

Technically the movie lends itself the the shot sytles of Hitchcock while even poking fun at them. An example of this is when the camera slowly zooms into the dining area where all the characters are talking. When I say "zooms into" that is exactly what happens, the glass window shatters and the camera pulls back.

Ultimately, the movie was a fun roast of Hitchcock. If you are easily offended, or are a hardcore Hitchcock enthusiast, you might not enjoy the movie for what it is (aja: a Parody). However, if you are a fan of Mel Brooks witty satirical style of storytelling- you will most likely enjoy this film.