Much has been written and said over the years about Alfred Hitchcock’s revered body of work – but never like this. Passionate cinephile Mark Cousins directs this cheeky and insightful study of the Master of Suspense’s work, illustrated with tremendously insightful clips and, most entertainingly, narrated from beyond the grave by Hitchcock himself!

Of course, unless some dark magic was employed, it’s not really Hitchcock’s voice we’re hearing. British impressionist and comic Alistair McGowan provides the sound-a-like vocal impersonation instead, but it absolutely works. And as “Hitchcock” points out techniques, resonances, images, meanings in his films (along with the occasional non-sequitur), you can’t help but be impressed by both the man himself and this fascinating exploration of his work.

And don’t miss our 70th anniversary celebration of the director’s best films, Rear Window, screening the night before on Friday 1 March.

Biologist Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) is a painfully ordinary man whose mundane existence gets a sudden uptick when people on the street start recognising him from appearances in their dreams – although, much like in real life, his dream self is usually relegated to background roles. With the media soon catching onto what they dub a “dream epidemic”, Paul begins to take a liking to the fame he claims to shun, much to the frustration of his family. But it’s not long before the dreams – and Paul’s life – start turning into nightmares.

Nicolas Cage continues his recent career renaissance with yet another critically-acclaimed performance. And it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role, in this smart and surreal and dark comedy about fame, fear and the fickle whims of popular culture.