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9.8/10
FilmFascination Rating
It has been 63 years since Psycho was released in the theatres. Every year, new thrillers kept releasing and yet Psycho has remained on top of them even after all these years. This should give you an idea of- What a great piece of art it is!
This is without a doubt one of Hitchcock’s best films. Also probably one of his scariest one which gets scarier the second time you watch it. At that time, the film was indeed the most shocking one ever witnessed by its original audience members.
The movie begins with Marion Crane filling up her lunch hours with her boyfriend Sam Loomis who she is unable to marry because of his alimony debts. As she returns to work, she is given 40,000 dollars which is to be deposited by her in the bank. Upon asking her boss, she makes the decision to head back home after going to the bank due to her alleged headache, which, after a brief period, turns out to be nonexistent. This leads to one of Hitchcock’s mold of an innocent person performing a crime based on some impulsive bad decisions. As anybody would have guessed, Marion steals the money and leaves immediately without telling anyone, on her way to Sam’s hometown- Fairvale. Marion drives closer to Fairvale but is slowed down by a violent rainstorm. That is when she pulls into Bates Motel where her small association with Norman Bates takes place. Telling anything more would lead to spoiling it for the first-time viewers.
Ads of ‘Psycho’ at the time of its release did shout- ‘Do not reveal the surprises’. In fact, no one was allowed in the theatre once the film started. And if by some miracle you do not know the twists, you never know what unexpected surprises Hitchcock has in store for you. The thriller somehow turns out to be simple and complex at the same time.
One of the scenes which reminds me the genius of Alfred Hitchcock is the car scene when Marion is stealing away the money. While she is driving, we start to hear all the dialogues that must be going on at the office. It not only saved filming so many extra scenes on different locations but is also so effective. When we are not actually seeing the visuals, our mind creates a picture through the dialogue we listen. And that just goes on to show the greatness of Hitchcock’s direction.
‘Psycho’ gives a lot of attention to details. Sure, there is that creepy mansion adjacent to the motel and that inherently freaky gloomy atmosphere. But it is the attention to small details that elevates the film. Like the score of the movie by Hitchcock’s long-time collaborator Bernard Hermann from the beginning constantly reminds you that something is going to happen.
Even the dialogue delivery by the actors is just mesmerizing. There are lines that are delivered so subtly that they make us think about them long after they are uttered. “We all go a little mad sometimes” is just an example of how the line is never really explained but is left for us to interpret in our own way. Anthony Perkins is so good in the movie. He skillfully maintains a delicate equilibrium between portraying a “sweet” demeanor and hinting at an underlying unease, effectively keeping the audience on edge. The right pace of the movie, well-delivered dialogues, some beautiful camera shots, and fine acting are the pillars of the movie that make it probably the best thriller I have seen.
Talking about camera shots, there are some violent scenes in the movie. But the flashes of flesh or the knife are shown very briefly. To show the scenes for even a moment more is to change the entire atmosphere of the movie and make the people remember these scenes. Hitchcock knows this and has masterfully avoided doing it. One of the reasons why Psycho still holds up both visually and thematically, is because it connects with our fear that we might commit a crime impulsively. The only moment when the film reminds us of its age is the sound effect, like the one during the murder scene, which seems to be the cliched music for danger (still very effective, though).
The thing I like about the movie the most is it never really tries to mislead the viewer. And despite that, it keeps us thrilled all the time. Sure, there are things we don’t know at the beginning, but the movie does not try to set us on a different path just for the twists to be shocking. It is just that it reveals itself layer by layer.
I sometimes wonder how exciting it would have been to watch it in the theatres during its release. ‘Psycho’ made me wish to be present in the period when it was released, just like how I felt after watching ‘The Apartment’. I know people who are going to not watch the movie just because it is black and white. Psycho is one of the most well-crafted movies by the master himself. It would be a shame if you avoided watching it just because it is monochromatic.
Favourite Quotes
Norman Bates: She needs me. It’s not as if is she were a maniac, a raving thing. She just goes – a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven’t you
Marion Crane: Yes. Sometimes just one time can be enough.
Marion Crane: Do you go out with friends?
Norman Bates: Well, a boy’s best friend is his mother.
Marion Crane: I’m sorry. I felt that… well, from what you told me about your mother is that she might be hurting you. I meant well.
Norman Bates: People always mean well. They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, oh, so very delicately!
Milton Arbogast: We’re always quickest to doubt people who have a reputation for being honest.
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