Psycho: A Horror Classic That Holds Up Well Today

horror, mystery

1:49

1960

Review by Brandon Talks Movies on Oct 25, 2017

A boy’s best friend is his mother.

When Paramount agreed to let Alfred Hitchcock (North by Northwest, Vertigo) make Psycho, they were sure it would be a flop—so much so that Hitchcock negotiated 60% of the profits rather than a flat rate. I had never seen the movie before last night, and I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how good it would be. Well, Hitchcock proved Paramount and my doubts wrong—this is a masterpiece. Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles, this is as clever as it is classic, and, while it may be tame by today’s standards, the suspense holds up very well. I’m not usually a big fan of horror movies, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It’s endured as one of the best horror films of all time, and that position is well-earned.

The plot opens with Lila Crane, a young secretary, spending some time with her secret lover, Sam Loomis. They say their sad goodbyes (he lives in a different state and sees her only while traveling). After Lila is entrusted by her boss and a client with taking $40,000 to the bank (that’s about $337,000 in 2017 dollars), she finds the temptation to start a new life with her boyfriend too great and steals the money, leaving town to find him. Along the way, she checks into the Bates Motel, a small stop that doesn’t get much business anymore. She quickly finds that something sinister is going on with the motel’s owners: Norman Bates, a man about her age, and his mother Norma, who is sick and remains in her house most of the time. I don’t want to give away more than that, but trust me—it’s a wild ride.

It’s not like my mother is a maniac or a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven’t you?

The art direction is stellar, but the acting is spectacular—particularly Anthony Perkins’s portrayal of Norman Bates. That was not an easy character to bring to life, but he did it. From the innocent first meeting with Lila to the chilling climax, Norman feels like someone you could really meet, but also like nobody you’ve ever met before. He so completely embodied this character that people thought of Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates for the rest of his career. Also, Hitchcock called him “Master Bates” all throughout filming, so he gets points for that. The other lead performances were very good, but Perkins stole every scene he was in.

Hitchcock is known as the master of suspense, and this may be his most suspenseful film. Don’t let the melodramatic bits near the beginning fool you—this movie is gripping and extremely tense. The 1960s had stricter guidelines on violence in film, so there’s nothing gratuitous here. But the tension and terror that build throughout the film are top-notch and very entertaining. The climax and ending were amazingly written and acted. This isn’t just a scary film; it’s very intelligent, too, and the surprising complexity and depth of the villain make the movie scarier.

Should I Watch Psycho?

Psycho is an enduring classic of horror and suspense, and it’s a brilliant film. It’s smart and scary enough to hold the attention of any adult, but relatively free of gore and sex, making it safe for teens too. If you’re having a Halloween movie night (or just a scary movie night), this would be a great pick that’s sure to satisfy most audiences. I’d recommend this to just about anyone.

Movies Like Psycho

Peeping Tom (1960) - This British horror film, released the same year as Psycho, has a similar vibe and another awkward villain. It was villified upon its released because it used first-person shots from the killer’s perspective, and had him literally kill women with a camera, putting the viewer uncomfortably close to the killing—literally and figuratively. It’s since been re-evaluated as a misunderstood masterpiece, similar to Psycho.
Repulsion (1965) - Repulsion, Roman Polanski’s first film in English, builds subtle tension with a creepy atmosphere and a crumbling psyche rather than cheap shocks and scares. Rather than show us a character who descended into madness, we see it happen first-person and in real time to the protagonist. It set off a long series of movies showing first-person experiences with psychosis and horror.

Academy Awards

Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Janet Leigh), Best Director (Alfred Hitchcock), Best Cinematography (John L. Russell), Best Art Direction - Set Decoration (Joseph Hurley, Robert Clatworthy, George Milo)

Runtime: 1:49
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Year: 1960
Genres: horror, mystery
Rating: R

About Brandon

My name is Brandon, and I love movies. Not bad ones, though—just the good ones. I’m curating and reviewing a list of classic, essential-viewing, or just plain good movies from all decades, and I've been reviewing them since 2016. I also co-host Peculiar Picture Show, a podcast about movies and mental health and write about Dungeons & Dragons options, builds, and optimization.

Psycho: A Horror Classic That Holds Up Well Today

Should I Watch Psycho?

Movies Like Psycho

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