Watch Psycho
- R
- 1960
- 1 hr 48 min
-
8.5 (730,941)
Psycho is a 1960 horror-thriller movie, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, that follows the story of Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a secretary who embezzles money from her employer and takes off to California to meet her lover, Sam Loomis (John Gavin). On her way, she stops at the Bates Motel, run by a young man named Norman (Anthony Perkins). What follows is a series of unexpected and terrifying events that lead us through a dark psychoanalytical thriller.
The movie begins with a credit sequence accompanied by Bernard Herrmann's spine-tingling score. The movie sets an eerie and unsettling tone, preparing us for the horrors to come. The opening scene shows Marion, who takes the money and plans to escape to start a new life with her lover. However, Marion meets with an unexpected and disastrous fate at the Bates Motel.
The Bates Motel is an old spooky building, located in a remote part of the town, surrounded by ominous-looking woods. The motel is run by Norman Bates, a shy and soft-spoken young man who has a strained relationship with his mother. Marion checks into the motel, and her encounter with Norman is unusual and sets the tone for the rest of the film.
As the story progresses, the viewer is taken on a tense ride where Marion's disappearance is discovered by Sam Loomis and her sister, Lila Crane (Vera Miles). Desperate to know what happened to Marion, Lila starts to investigate on her own, leading her to the Bates Motel, where she meets Norman, who seems secretive and evasive.
Janet Leigh's character, Marion, is a complex and layered character, and the audience is made to empathize with her. Her moral conflict and guilt are palpable, and the viewer is left wondering if she will redeem herself or suffer the consequences of her actions.
Anthony Perkins delivers an exceptional performance as Norman Bates. He embodies the character's fear and vulnerability, making the audience feel sympathetic to him while also raising suspicion. Bates is plagued by his past and his mother's controlling ways, which lead to his unraveling throughout the film.
One of the film's memorable scenes involves Marion taking a shower in her cabin at the motel. This scene is shot almost entirely with close-ups and creates a mood of violent unease. Bernard Herrmann's haunting score adds to the suspense by creating a sense of impending doom. This scene alone would go down in history as one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history.
As the film progresses, the mystery surrounding Marion's disappearance and Norman's role in it deepens, leading to a climactic and shocking twist ending.
Psycho is a movie that has stood the test of time, and its significance in the horror genre cannot be overstated. Alfred Hitchcock's meticulous attention to detail, camera angles, and iconic score made this film a classic. The film's themes of psychoanalysis, perversion, and gender roles were groundbreaking and influenced generations of filmmakers.
In conclusion, Psycho is a must-see horror-thriller movie with memorable performances and a gripping storyline. Its impact on popular culture is undeniable, and its iconic scenes and themes continue to resonate with audiences today.
Psycho is a 1960 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.5 and a MetaScore of 97.