Hitchcockian films are those made by various filmmakers, with the styles and themes similar to those of Alfred Hitchcock. Among many, Brian De Palma and Henri-Georges Clouzot are known for directing multiple Hitchcockian thrillers.
Elements considered Hitchcockian include:
Climactic plot twist.
The cool platinum blonde.
The presence of a domineering mother in someone's life
An innocent man accused.
Restricting the action to a single setting to increase tension (e.g. Lifeboat, Rear Window, Rope).
Characters who switch sides and/or who cannot be trusted.
Tension building through suspense to the point where the audience enjoys seeing the character in a life-threatening situation (e.g. Vertigo, the windmill scene in Foreign Correspondent).
Average people thrust into strange or dangerous situations (e.g. North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much).
Bumbling or incompetent authority figures, particularly police officers.
Use of darkness to symbolize impending doom (dark clothing, shadows, smoke, etc.)
Strong visual use of famous landmarks (Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Forth Rail Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Albert Hall, British Museum, Piccadilly Circus, etc.)
Mistaken identity (e.g. North by Northwest, The Wrong Man).
The use of a staircase as a motif for impending danger or suspense.
Use of a macguffin plot device (one that remains unexplained (e.g. the microfilm in North by Northwest).
Referring to crime for mystery rather than presenting it explicitly (e.g. Dial M for Murder, Alfred Hitchcock Presents).
Some films, or films with scenes, considered Hitchcockian include:
