Psycho (1960)

 

Masterpiece. One of the best thrillers ever made and one that set the standard for decades to come.

There. Now go and watch it.

What's that? You want something more? 

Oh you.

After having dealt with several big budget productions, Alfred Hitchcock wanted to shoot something fast and dirty for a relatively low budget, so he decided on a smaller story, kept almost everything on the backlot, shot in black-and-white and used a crew accustomed to television work as they were used to working fast. The result is iconic, not just in story or subject matter, but scenes and music. Everything just clicked here. 

Janet Leigh is Marion Crane, a woman who has a long-distance relationship with a guy who has debts. Because she really likes him, she decides one day to steal 40,000 dollars from her employer and drive to her beau in order to finally start a life together for realsies. But she gets sort of lost in heavy rain and comes across a motel off the beaten track where she decides to spend the night. The motel is empty, save for a nervous young man named Norman and his domineering mother. Marion doesn't think too much of it all and decides to head back the next day and return the money to her boss.

And then she is brutally murdered in by far the most memorable showerscene ever, helped massively by Bernard Herrmann's score. 

Then the focus shifts to Marion's sister Lila, who of course wants to know what happened. There's also a private investigator who discovers more than he bargained for and naturally Marion's boyfriend who teams up with Lila. But what exactly is going on behind the scenes at the Bates' Motel? And is Norman who he claims he is? 

Well, a lot of you will probably know the many twists and turns. But that doesn't detract from this film, as it remains a joy to behold. This is solely on the shoulders of Anthony Perkins, who plays Norman with sweet childish abandon and a sinister edge just below the surface. Really, he is absolutely brilliant. Janet Leigh also performs wonderfully as Marion, you can actually believe her nervousness and her reactions to whenever she thinks she is found out feel genuine. And because you sympathize with her so much, it is all the more shocking when she is killed about two-thirds into the story.

Well played, Hitchcock. Well played.

Not only all that, but one would be remiss not to mention the influence this film in style, storytelling and swerves has had on pretty much any thriller worth its salt afterwards. And even if you know the ending, this remains a joy to watch. It is always tense and doesn't let up until the very end, which - granted - is a bit of a downer, as apparently the studio felt the need to include a scene where everything is explained as if the audience is absolutely stupid.

It isn't, but it doesn't bring the film down too much, fortunately. Now go and (re)watch it.