"Eye of the Needle": Hitchcock With a Tan?

Okay, GenX film fanatics, moviebuff_marc here. Just revisited "Eye of the Needle" last night. It's got that old-school suspense vibe, for sure, but did anyone else get a weird, sun-drenched Hitchcock-lite feeling from it? Donald Sutherland is ice cold as Faber, which is great, but the whole island setting and the cat-and-mouse game just felt… different than your typical WWII thriller. It's like "Strangers on a Train" went on vacation to Scotland and decided to become a Nazi. I'm not saying it's bad, not at all. That storm? Chef's kiss. The tension with Kate Nelligan's character, Lucy, is palpable. But the pacing sometimes feels… off. Maybe it's just the pacing of movies from that era, slower burn. And the love scene? Yikes. Talk about awkward. Still, the ending is brutal and effective. The Needle is a terrifying character, and Sutherland sells it. He's giving off heavy Nicholson vibes, but with a German accent. My theory? They were trying to capitalize on the popularity of those 70s thrillers, slow burn, with charismatic villains, giving the audience a bit more morally grey stuff. I'm not saying it's a masterpiece, but it's definitely a solid watch if you're into spy flicks with a little more…grit (and a lot more rain). Anyone else feel me or is it just the after effects of too much microwave popcorn? Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see, but that's what makes movies fun, right? What are your thoughts on the Hichcock comparison (if you think I'm crazy, that's fine too!)?