Psycho

Rating: 5/5

The films of Alfred Hitchcock can fall into many different categories. Some are thrilling, others are full of romance, espionage and adventure. Psycho is one that is full of suspense and terror.

Secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) wants nothing more than to be able to marry her boyfriend Sam, but due to financial constraints they are unable to wed. When her boss entrusts her with depositing 40,000 dollars in cash, Marion decides to take the money and run.

Fleeing from her crime, Marion finds herself exhausted and stuck driving in a rain storm. She pulls into the vacant Bates Motel run by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). At first the motel seems quaint and eclectic and Norman appears shy and kind, but Marion soon learns that there is more going than what meets the eye.

Though Hitchcock made numerous movies that achieved lasting critical acclaim, Psycho may be his most famous film. His movies often dealt with brutal or intense plot lines, but Psycho was arguably his most violent to date. The scenes in which it is famous for are still shocking to watch, even though it is a horror film that was made in 1960.

Other than the iconic shower scene, what makes Psycho a lasting classic is the brilliant performance by Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. The other actors' portrayals in the film are done quite well, but Norman Bates will always be the stand out character of the film. Perkins is able to give Norman a sweet and self-conscious outward appearance, but allows his eyes to give a glimpse into Norman's secretive and sinister mind.

Psycho is a movie where all the elements come together to create a cinema masterpiece. The score is one of the most memorable pieces of film music. It accents each scene, aiding in its' ability to add terror to the already frightening moments created by Alfred Hitchcock. Where other movies may have been too afraid to push boundaries, Hitchcock knocked down walls in order to bring Psycho to its' highest potential.

It says a lot about the quality of a film for it to leave a long lasting impression. Psycho is a film that has been considered legendary for many years, and will continue to have the same impact for many more decades to come. Though it was made over forty years ago, Psycho remains to be one of the most frightening and unsettling horror movies of all time.