Hitchcock would approve

"...the lover of the daughter's father..." - gjosiban

I also don't think "Stoker" is similar to "Vertigo", as far as being "a tale of human longing and weakness" - that's not what I was talking about. I love "Vertigo", I've seen it many times and I've written about it in detail on a Classic film blog and in other settings. What I was talking about was related to the OP, that I thought Hitchcock would have approved of and appreciated "Stoker" (not necessarily for it's references to "Shadow of a Doubt") - he would relate to it's subversive nature (Hitchcock had that in spades) and Park's fantastic command and technique as a director. If you care enough, read again what I wrote.

A brilliant filmmaker like Park chan-wook obviously knows that what he wants to accomplish is something that not everyone will appreciate, and a certain contingent will only be pissed off by the work, because they simply don't get it - but why would anyone become so angry toward and morbidly fixated on a film they dislike? Maybe they feel, unconsciously, that somehow the filmmaker is looking down on them, and they feel resentment, like a short person resenting someone who is tall. Damn, there are so many films that I've seen that I personally hate or think are total b.s., but that just makes it something I want to forget as soon as possible, not to waste more time by continuing to rail against it. If Park chan-wook reacted by dumbing-down his vision so as to appeal to mediocrity, he'd be debasing his talent for the sake of popularity. But of course he understands that he wouldn't achieve popularity either, because he would be making a film that doesn't reflect his true sensibility, and the audience would also feel that and would probably not respond. If an artist is brilliant, as is PCK, it's always best to work at the level of skill and perception that challenges the talent. It's really the best for all involved. I was thrilled and inspired that this is what Park chan-wook did with "Stoker".

Hitchcock had to operate in a very studio driven environment, his least commercially successful film from the 50's, "Vertigo", was misunderstood by many. Some people feel that film might have been the closest to Hitchcock's soul - he was being the auteur on that one, for sure (he was influenced by the great european directors of that period). In that film and his other more mainstream films, he was a master of film technique, the use of the camera and editing, sound, etc. - this is something Park chan-wook also shares, along with wit and a subversive nature. I really do think Hitchcock would have approved of "Stoker" - I think he would have gotten right into the spirit of things, he would have recognized a kindred spirit and given it a thumbs up, or at least a sly smile.