Katy Coakley

There’s Always Someone Watching: The Hidden Hitchcockian Influence in The Skin I Live In and The Substance

Alfred Hitchcock tackled issues of voyeurism and obsession in his films, and contemporary filmmakers have continued to explore these themes. In this presentation, I explore his influence in Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In (2011) and Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance (2024). With The Skin I Live In, Dr. Robert Ledgard’s obsessive transformation of Vera Cruz is often compared to Scottie’s obsession with Judy in Vertigo. Both men, coping with losing women they love, begin to control their subjects’ appearances by changing their clothing, hair, and, in Almodóvar’s case, even through cosmetic surgery. The Substance also invokes Hitchcockian voyeurism, specifically drawing similarities to Psycho. For example, Norman Bates’s voyeuristic impulse—most notably his act of spying on Marion through a peephole—is mimicked by Elisabeth Sparkle. However, Fargeat broadens the discussion by concentrating on women’s beauty standards, focusing on Elisabeth’s aging and Sue’s sexualization. Though Hitchcock is not making films anymore, his legacy continues. Contemporary filmmakers like Almodovar and Fargeat connect with Hitchcock’s work by addressing voyeurism through the lens of 21st-century concerns.

About
Katy Coakley is a graduate student studying Digital Media and Storytelling at Loyola University’s School of Communication in Chicago. She is currently employed as a videographer for the university’s Rambler Productions. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Dominican University in May 2025. Katy also received the university’s outstanding senior awards in both Film Studies and Digital Journalism. Her capstone, “Masquerading Male Depression in the Screwball Comedies,” highlights director Todd Phillips’s portrayal of masculinity in films such as “Old School" and “The Hangover.” When she is not working, Katy, a passionate cinephile, often spends her free time at the movie theatre.