Psycho

    Let us talk about the film that would go on to be Alfred Hitchcock’s magnum opus. To many, Hitchcock is the greatest director of all time, and Psycho is widely regarded as his greatest film, so it would not be a surprise to know that Psycho is one of the greatest films ever made. Even still, it was a film that not many wanted to be made. Paramount wanted another mystery/thriller type film a la North by Northwest, but Hitchcock was so adamant about wanting to make Psycho that he ended up financing it himself. That level of belief that he had in himself is one of the reasons why the film turned out the way it did. He pulled no punches and made decisions that at the time simply sounded insane, but those decisions made for a fantastic film.

            The first act of Psycho feels nothing like what the film would go on to be. It starts off like many Hitchcock films do. You are introduced to your main protagonist, in this case the lovely and talented Janet Leigh, whose character goes on the run after stealing quite a bit of money. From there we are treated to the usual Hitchcock tropes. A growing suspense, a protagonist looking for somewhere safe, but everything changes once we get to Bate’s Motel and are introduced to Norman Bates. Now, Anthony Perkins was already an established star by the time this was made, but this is the performance that absolutely changed the perception surrounding him and what he could do. This was his breakthrough performance. As Norman Bates, he has such a calm, yet uncomfortable demeanor about himself. The soft-spoken voice, the gentleness in his walk, its these little nuances that make the character great and throw you off the trail. Remember when I said this starts off like every other Hitchcock film? Well, that all changes after the famous shower scene. If there has ever been a greater scene in horror history, I do not know what it is. The shower scene is the new standard by which horror scares would be judged. With this one scene, which perfectly completes the first act, Hitchcock let the audience know that this was not your normal film.

            From there, you are treated to an amazing horror film filled with drama, twists, suspense, and terrific performances. Just when you think you know what is going on, the whole dynamic changes, and before you can get comfortable, it changes again. Alfred Hitchcock changed the game with this. The way it was directed, the uncomfortable strings he uses to create the shower scene score, his decision to make this in black and white, these are all elements that go towards crafting a perfect film. The final scene is one of the greatest final scenes in cinema history. If you have never watched Psycho, you should definitely find the time to do so. It is truly a special film, and one that absolutely deserves its praise. Official Rating: 5 Stars.