The Critics Speak

Psycho

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Awesome
Released: 1960
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
MPAA RATING: Not Rated, but I'd say R because it's darn creepy

Synopsis: Credited with inventing the genre of the modern horror film, PSYCHO has had its share of sequels and imitators, none of which diminishes the achievement of this shocking and complex horror thriller. Alfred Hitchcock's choreography of elements in PSYCHO is considered so perfect it inspired a shot-by-shot remake by Gus Van Zant in 1998. However, Hitchcock's black-and-white original, featuring Anthony Perkins's haunting characterization of lonely motel keeper Norman Bates, has never been equaled. Bates presides over an out-of-the-way motel under the domineering specter of his mother. The young, well-intentioned Bates is introduced to the audience when Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a blonde on the run with stolen money, checks in for the night. But Momma doesn't like loose women, so the stage is set for this classic tale of horror--and one of the most famous scenes in film history. PSYCHO was initially received by audiences with shock and amazement--and it still terrifies today. Though it is now considered prototypical Hitchcock, its setting, pace, and emphasis on terror were major departures for the director at the time, coming after the more classically grand NORTH BY NORTHWEST. --Taken from Rotten Tomatoes

My Take: I don't know what I'm going to say about this film that hasn't already been said. It's good enough to be number eighteen on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Greatest Movies. It's good enough to get remade. (Although... why on earth would you recreate a classic, awesome film that redefined the Horror genre? REDEFINED A GENRE!?! Anyway...)

Since it's a classic I hadn't seen, except for the shower scene during a film class way back when, I figured it was about time I payed my proper homage to Hitchcock. It was SWEET! Beautiful shots, great acting, classic Hitchcock crazy camera zooming and creepy heights, interesting script, psychological issues.... All around good. Because I'm so used to modern-day effects, however, those of Psycho seemed really fakey and even hilarious at times. I totally cracked up at the ending because it was so bizarre. All in all, it's AWESOME, and you have to see it if you have any small speck of an interest in films. I love the details and symbolism Hitchcock puts in films. I feel like he actually respects his audience and wants to include all kinds of neat details to really get us going.