Psycho is a movie that should be given the time of day. The movie is full of constant suspense and thriller. Alfred Hitchcock’s film was a state of the art thriller, and this is an understatement. The film's theme is based purely on psychological control. I can say even a month later, the movie brings cold shivers and paranoia to me. Through Alfred Hitchcock’s ability to instill a form of psycho in every character deserves credit.
The movie begins in Phoenix, Arizona as secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), is on the run after stealing $40,000 from her employer in order to help pay for her boyfriend's debt, Sam Loomis (John Gavin), so she can become married to him. This is a perfect example of a lack of psychological control. Through her desire to want to become married to Sam Loomis, she obtains this lack of fear, psycho-ness to steal 40,000 dollars for a man she hasn’t really experienced a lifestyle with. She goes through many troubles such as being seen by her boss, stopped by an officer, buying a new car to try to make herself incognito, and sleep on the side of the road in her vehicle. She then is overcome by exhaustion again during a heavy rainstorm. She stops for the night at the ramshackle Bates Motel and meets the polite but highly strung proprietor Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a young man with an interest in taxidermy and a difficult relationship with his mother. He had a crush on Marion, to say the least; he flirted with her and brought her dinner. But his expression of love was very sketchy, perfect for the theme of the movie, through fast spoken sentences, stutters, fidgets, and word trembles. This led to much suspicion for me as I felt something to happen soon. He became even more attracted to her, but he told her that he couldn’t love her because of her mother. Later that night, as Marion bathed in the shower, a woman broke into the bathroom and stabbed her to death. Norman went to check up on her later and was shocked when he saw her laying there in a pool of blood. He who killed her: his mother. Norman wanted to protect his mother though; he disposed of all evidence, put Marion in her car, and dumped her in a nearby swamp.
Initially, this seemed a such a fast transition from a moderate suspense film to a rapid change in murder, blood, and fear. As we come to find out that Norman’s mother was really Norman Bates dressed as his mother. Norman Bates was consumed by his multiple personalities as a quiet guy, and as a psychotic killer who was of representation of his mother. Norman acted as his mother to make himself feel as the “good child”, who would resolve all of his “mother’s” horrific actions. But in all honesty is was to help him cope with the true wrongdoing he committed but he knew deep down he was a demon trapped inside of a soulless body.
Alfred Hitchcock did an amazing job conducting this movie, keeping constantly suspense and thrill up to the very last minute. Misleading us to believe that Norman Bates mother was truly alive was very well planned. The plot twists were very well set up. As Alfred would consistently create a new "psycho" from Marion Crane to Norman Bates's mother" and lastly Norman Bates. Although the movie was shot in black and white due to being on a very tight budget and he thought the movie would be too gory if shot in color; I felt it was a great final touch, creating true suspense to the movie that I feel wouldn't have been accomplished in color.
I would recommend this piece of historical artwork to all who have a love for horror movies. This is a movie that all directors should certainly pay homage to. Well directed and produced, great choice of actors, just overall very well.
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