Psycho is perhaps Hitchcock’s best-known film, the iconic shower scene probably one of the most famous in cinema, having been parodied numerous times (even on the Simpsons!) and well known – even down to the music – by those who’ve never seen the film. I watched it for the first time a couple of years ago, and saw it again recently.

Psycho stars Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who after stealing forty thousand dollars and going on the run ends up at the ill-fated Bates Motel, run by the reclusive Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). She is pursued by her boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin), sister Lila (Vera Miles) and a private detective Milton Arbogast (Martin Balsam), but will any of them be able to discover what happened to Marion?

Psycho does not begin like a horror film, but more like a love story, and if you didn’t know anything about the film you might assume it was simply about Marion’s boss trying to track her down. The film works really well as you end up caring about Marion before her inevitable death. The famous shower scene is brilliantly filmed – apparently the movie was filmed in black and white in order to keep costs down and prevent this scene from being too gory – and manages to be scary even though I’d seen it before in various different guises.

The whole film is a bit of a mystery as you try to work out who killed Marion. The story is so embedded in popular culture that I already knew who the murderer was, but other parts of the plot came as a surprise to me. In any case, the whole thing is so well done and the tension builds up really well that even on a second viewing it’s exciting!

Psycho is definitely worth watching, even if you don’t normally like horror films – it’s not particularly gory (and is certificated only 15, not 18) but it is very intriguing and very well made. Despite the 60s sets and clothes (the film was made in 1960) it doesn’t feel dated at all. Be warned though – you might not want to take a shower again!

This movie doesn’t hold up today. Once you know the story and the twists, it becomes boring. I can’t deny it’s place in movie history, but Hitchcock has much better films that stand up to repeat viewings.

My full review at Epinions.

this is my all time favorite movie

for months Psycho consumed my entire life.

i LOVE Psycho!!!!!!!

Alfred Hitchcock was ahead of his time in movie production. Typical horror films of the ’60’s consisted of corny plots (ex: “Night of the living dead”). This film, however, was really good and worth watching!

So that’s where that music comes from..

Anythony Hopkins was great – love that creepy little monologue at the end. My Dad wouldn’t watch this movie.

I have always wanted to see a movie where the main character gets bumped off early. I imagine he broke conventions when it was made, and I wonder are we aware of the conventions today that can be broken. More sex and violence doesn’t seem to cut it. The trick is to make it watchable.

How can you go wrong with Hitchcock? This movie has inspired and spurred on generations of filmmakers. Interestingly enough, if you ask many people what they remember most about this movie, they will tell you they remember the red blood running down the drain in the shower.

The movie was shot in black and white. There was no “red” in it.