Rear Window became the ultimate text of voyeurism, using the camera to peek into a world we don’t fully understand, projecting our meaning onto the cuts and objects Hitchcock shows us.
The sense of mystery Hitchcock can create on a controlled set is an ode to his power as a visual storyteller. Misleads, false epiphanies, and gestures that suggest the violence happening in this small block all create one of the great thrillers ever made, all told from the vantage point of James Stewart as the injured reporter through his camera. Rear Window became the ultimate text of voyeurism, using the camera to peek into a world we don’t fully understand, projecting our meaning onto the cuts and objects Hitchcock shows us. It’s the pinnacle of Hitchcock's camera prowess and the power of suggestion.