IMDb top 250: #30
Rating 10/10
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Joseph Stefano
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles & John Gavin
"It's not like my mother is a maniac or a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?"
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is one of the greatest psychological thrillers/horror movies ever made. By today's standards it probably wouldn't be classed as a horror movie, but in 1960 when it was released I can imagine it really did terrify audiences. The film is beautifully written by Joseph Stefano, the dialogue is simply perfect and the overall pace of the movie works so well. Even if you've never seen this movie you'll know about the now iconic shower scene, and the point at which it comes in the movie is brilliant!
At the time of the films release in 1960 most horror villains where vampires or werewolves, scary to the eyes grotesque movie monsters! But with Psycho Hitchcock gave us an even scarier monster, the boy next door. Perkins does a stellar job as Norman Bates, never playing the crazed killer as a raving lunatic. His performance is really layered as whilst he does come across rather creepy and unsettling he's also rather sweet and charming, to begin with anyway. Janet Leigh gives an Oscar nominated performance as Marion Crane and her scene in the parlour with Perkins is fantastic, brilliant acting from both of them. The rest of the supporting cast are great as well.
The real star though is Hitchcock, his direction is outstanding and he builds the suspense brilliantly. Not just for one good scare, but time and time again! There are so many great moments, not just the shower scene, that have now been copied to death but never with the same flair as Hitchcock. But the shower scene is just perfect. I watched the film with my dad who said when he first saw the movie he thought the blood was in colour. It's so well executed you see nothing but still feel every stab of the knife. That's how good the direction and editing is.
Not only is the direction, acting and writing amazing the movie also boasts one of the greatest scores ever. Bernard Herrmann's music is as iconic as the scenes it plays over. I'm a big lover of Hitchcock and for me this is his greatest picture! I just love it.
If you've never seen this movie before, why the hell not! Get to it!
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