Psycho was a game-changing film if there ever was one. It shocked everyone upon its release in 1960. This was thanks to director Alfred Hitchcock's mastery of keeping the audience in suspense and not being afraid to challenge the filmmaking norm at the time. Even today, it still will keep a first-time viewer on their toes and leave them disturbed once the truth of the film is revealed at the end.
After embezzling money from her employer to clear her boyfriend's debts to marry him, secretary Marion Crane goes on the run. During a bad rainstorm, she checks into the Bates Motel, run by Norman Bates, who takes care of both the motel and his sickly mother. What follows is a series of violent-filled twists and turns as we learn the dark secrets of what's going on at the Bates Motel.
Psycho would not have become what is without Alfred Hitcock's skill at controlling his audience. The film does a masterful job of getting under your skin and making you anxious. This is established even before we arrive at the Bats Motel with Marion's anxiety and guilt eating away at her as she tries to run off with the stolen money. Whether it's a Police Officer becoming suspicious of her, or her playing out how her place of work is reacting to the stolen money, it all serves its purpose in immediately investing the audience into the story before blood has even been spilled. A solid performance from Janet Leigh and Bernard Herrmann's mesmerizing score also helps in that regard. But just as you are getting to know Marion, the film takes an insane turn and has her killed within the first 40 minutes of the film in the shocking shower scene that left audiences polarized. This closes the door to Marion's story and opens the disturbing web of Norman Bates. This complete 180 in the plot just highlights Hitcock's skill as a director, no one can shock people quite like he could.
Much of the film's thrills are centered on the Psycho himself, Norman Bates. Anthony Perkins is amazing in portraying Norman, helping make him one of cinema's most iconic characters. It's fascinating to see Norman go about his day-to-day antics, especially when it comes to interacting with people or covering up a murder. Perkin's best scene as Norman is at the beginning when he meets Marion at the motel. When Norman strikes up a conversation with her, there is a sense of nervousness and isolation he conveys that presents him in a sympathetic light. This tells us that there is a good person in Norman, which makes his circumstances all the more tragic. All the mystery and violence surrounding Norman Bates leads to a shocking finale that's just as powerful years later. This finale also makes re-watches rewarding as watching Norman from the beginning knowing his secret makes him even more interesting to watch.
Psycho is simply one of the greatest films ever made. There's no denying the impact that this film had (and still has) on the industry. If you haven't seen this movie, you are missing out on pop culture history.
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