Ragnar Jónasson’s story draws on Hitchcock’s suspense

Ragnar Jónasson’s short story The Coffin, published by mbl.is and appearing in Morgunblaðið’s Sunday supplement, takes inspiration from the films and storytelling techniques of British director Alfred Hitchcock.

The story is part of Jónasson’s short-story collection of the same name, published by Veröld earlier this summer. Although Jónasson discusses the influence of crime writer Agatha Christie on his work in the book’s foreword, The Coffin is specifically built around Hitchcock’s use of suspense.

The story follows friends who meet to watch Hitchcock’s 1948 film Rope, in which a coffin also plays a role. It contains numerous other references to Hitchcock, including characters named Harry and Marnie.

The names refer to Hitchcock’s 1955 dark comedy The Trouble With Harry, about the trouble caused in a Vermont village when a body is found, and his 1964 film Marnie. The latter received harsh reviews when it was released but is now considered one of Hitchcock’s major works.

The story also refers to Rope’s distinctive filming style. The film appears to have been made in a single take, but was actually shot in several takes, each lasting between seven and 10 minutes.

The Coffin was first published last year in the collection Birds, Strangers and Psychos, which also features Hitchcock-inspired stories by writers including Lee Child, Anne Billson and S.A. Cosby.

Jónasson’s story was nominated this year for the CWA Dagger for the best crime short story of the year in Britain.