Psycho
Cast
Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates
Vera Miles as Lila Crane
John Gavin as Sam Loomis
Martin Balsam as Detective Milton Arbogast
John McIntire as Sheriff Al Chambers
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Rater #2 has description and review
Rater #1
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rater #2
10/10. Alfred Hitchcock's greatest movie is only forty-three years old, yet
it rings fear into the hearts of millions of people, each scream
louder than the next. What movie is this? Why, Psycho, of course.
It begins with a swift opening credit sequence that is low-tech but
does the job. Just like the rest of the movie. This, along with other
Hitchcock films, is what horror movies are. You don't need excessive
blood and gore and amorous teenagers. All you need is a decent story
and tension galore.
Actually, this landmark films is pretty much thrill-free for the
first half. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is a secretary. She is asked
to take $40,000 to the bank, but instead she runs away with it,
without telling anybody. She then decides to check into the Bates
Motel and chats a bit with loner owner Norman Bates (Anthony
Perkins). She then takes a shower....
Everybody knows the plot, everyone knows the shower scene. What most
people also know is how great this film is. It's finely crafted with
superior music and terrific acting all around, with some symbolism
all around. First, the music.
Bernard Herrmann, who produced the score for most of Hitch's other
movies, did a top-notch job here, also. His strings orchestra really
brought out the noir-ish mood. Even when Marion is just driving, you
still feel tense because of his A+ score. The superimposed voice-
overs that weren't very frequent were also quite good; it seemed like
you couldn't tell whether Marion was thinking that or not. Hitchcock
is a great directory; his camera shots and precise timing are superb.
Most horror filmmakers try to carbon copy his style, but never
succeed, because they don't have any of his wit and superiority. This
is a fine craftsman at work.
Perkins is eerily great. He manages to be vague and yet vulnerable.
He's being overpowered by his overbearing mother who lives in the
house behind the motel. He seems like he could be a nice guy�until he
snaps. Leigh is also great, along with Vera Miles (Marion's sister
Lila), John Gavin (Marion's boyfriend Sam), and Martin Balsam (P.I.
Arborgast).
I don't understand why Psycho was remade thirty eight years after it
came out. Nobody needed to see it in color, with new actors, and the
same scene-by-scene! It probably would have been a lot better if Gus
Van Sant (who directed the new one) did a "reimagining", like Tim
Burton and Planet of the Apes. Sure, William H. Macy is in the new
one, but I've seen some of it and it's just horrible.
Reading up online, I see some symbolism throughout the movie.
Norman's obsession with birds (his middle name is Francis in the
movie) means he wants to fly away from his mother. Something that I
always love in movie is when they put "hints" of the movie in. For
example, in the office where Marion works, there are two pictures:
one of where she will be pulled over by a cop and one of a swamp that
comes into play later. That type of stuff I always find fascinating.
Look for Hitchcock's cameo (like he always has) as a man in a cowboy
hat around four minutes into the movie, outside of Marion's office.
Rater #3
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rater #4
Has Not Seen Movie
Rated R for two scenes of violence.
Running time: 109 minutes
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