Psycho (1960)
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Psycho Movie Review
Psycho is a 1960 horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. It is one of the best films of all time.
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“I’m not even going to swat that fly.
I hope they are watching… they’ll see.
They’ll see and they’ll know, and they’ll say,
“Why, she wouldn’t even harm a fly…“
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The story is immensely realistic leading to one of the most grounded in reality horror films and thus all the more effective in its scares. Everything portrayed here can really happen and that realization made it even more unnerving. The film is engaging from beginning to end and it simply flew by how fun it is, but it’s also consistently atmospheric, chilly and downright unforgettable.
Yes, Psycho probably has the highest number of purely classic, iconic sequences out of any movie out there. The shower sequence is naturally the standout part. It is effective to this day, beautifully shot and composed and accompanied by that incredibly scary music. It was the most violent portrayal of murder up to that point in the history for Hollywood and thus it is groundbreaking along with being immaculate in every way.
The murder at the top of the staircase is also very memorable, but the skeleton scene as well as the subsequent running and yelling from “the mother” make for the scariest scene in the entire film by far because, just like ‘Conjuring’ decades after, it gives us one great scare only to be followed immediately by an even greater one. And naturally that entire ending is amazing and one of the creepiest finales in horror history fueled by unforgettable, continually parodied monologue speech.
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Marion Crane is a phenomenal Hitchcock leading blonde lady. She is very much different than all of the others as she faced the most gruesome faith while she’s also far from a good woman as she’s basically a thief. The addition of the police and thievery was quite interesting. Janet Leigh’s performance is nuanced and very strong.
Norman Bates is of course one of the finest villains to ever grace the silver screen. Phenomenally acted by Anthony Perkins in his career-defining role, Norman is a deeply complex, mentally ill man and Hitchcock’s ultimate portrayal of momma’s boy. He’s to me all the more effective as a villain because we follow the crimes from his perspective and we witness him being quite nervous while being interrogated. That made him very realistic and just the portrayal of a nervous, shy and lonely guy being a major killer was groundbreaking for its time.
Vera Miles was somewhat clunky in some scenes, but mostly solid. Lila and Sam are a pretty competent couple and I really liked how they managed to control the dangerous situation so well. The detective’s also quite memorable for the short screen time that he got. The characters and acting are truly superb in this movie.
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Psycho is a thematically complex film with many possible motifs, interpretations and suggestions. I personally find its psychology groundbreaking and influential in the horror genre and unfortunately never rivaled up to this day. The film’s portrayal of the Oedipus Complex is effective, realistic and scary. The film is also fascinating in its portrayal of a warped mind and the complex psyche of its villain who inhabits his mother in his mind and she eventually takes over in that masterpiece of a finale.
Psycho succeeds as a major horror film that can still strike a nerve decades after its release. I find it to not have too much of a repeat value as it’s the most effective upon the first viewing, but still it holds up solidly after multiple viewings. It is a highly authentic movie which throws audience expectations throughout its runtime as it features a major twist where a protagonist dies halfway through while also featuring that twist about mother which is phenomenally conveyed.
Yes, the first act of the film may be slow, but it worked for me as it introduced us to Marion’s character so well. You can say that the explanation from the psychologist at the end of the film where he explains everything may be too much of an exposition, but I still found it somewhat necessary as the film maybe would have been too vague without it.
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Visually speaking, it’s an artistic achievement. It was an amazing choice from the director to shoot the film in black-and-white as it’s perfect for it. The imagery here is iconic from the Bates’ motel and mansion to the interiors of the house to those cabins to the swamp. That entire motel is iconic looking and menacing. Its stark black-and-white photography truly is striking at creating a menacing atmosphere.
And then there’s that score. Every major horror classic features unforgettable music and this is no exception. The film’s so well scored and consistently atmospheric and dangerous owing to its menacing score, but of course the highlight is that screechy piece repeatedly accompanying every major action scene here. It’s again hugely memorable and it cannot ever be forgotten.
Alfred Hitchcock directed the film gloriously and thus this surely is his magnum opus along with the masterpiece that is of course ‘Rear Window’. The dialogue is clever and sophisticated offering many unforgettable lines. It explores its psychology so well leading to a classic example of a great psychological horror.
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The pacing and editing are also deft and simply perfect as there isn’t a single wasted or rushed scene to be had here. And just the immense originality and the unforgettable nature of the film make it an enduring classic that I have watched four times by now and I certainly plan to watch it many times more.
Groundbreaking in its violence and psychology, highly original in its approach and storytelling and featuring some great twists and subversions, Psycho is also beautifully shot as its stark black-and-white photography combined with that iconic, creepy music successfully create the ominous, dangerous and unnerving atmosphere throughout its whole runtime. Norman Bates is one of the most effective, memorable villains in the history of Hollywood and the film is all the more scary having in mind that its story can happen as it’s so realistic. From that infamous shower scene to the double scare in the basement to that unforgettable monologue in the finale, Psycho truly has a plethora of classic, iconic scenes that are remembered to this day. Along with ‘Rear Window’, it is Hitchock’s masterpiece, the best horror film ever made and overall one of the best films of all time.
