“We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven’t you?” – Norman Bates
1001 Info
MOVIE: Psycho
DIRECTOR(S): Alfred Hitchcock
WRITER(S): Joseph Stefano
1001 #: 363
GENRE(S): Horror
RELEASE DATE(S): 1960
Psycho is arguably the best horror movie no one’s ever seen. I can hear your grumbling. Don’t get me wrong, in the public eye, this is beyond popular, but why? Word of mouth. Everyone knows about Bates Motel, dear old mommy, and the shower scene. You don’t have to know a lick about the horror genre to know that murder by heart. My point is, how many people have watched this superbly directed piece of cinematic terror from start to finish? It’s less than you think.
Paramount released Psycho during a time in Hollywood where convention and idealism were the norm. However, Hitchcock had a penchant for innovation and storytelling, which he intended to exercise. Scholars have been so impressed with Norman Bates that various psychological studies have been written, though I doubt Hitchock ever intended Psycho to be a character drama about young Mr. Bates.
Nearly all the great horror films have that one iconic thing that set it apart from the pretenders–the score. Imagine Halloween without the piano pulsing to every beat of Michael’s sinister stride, imagine The Exorcist without the terrifying tubular bells, imagine The Omen without those ominous Latin choirs chanting at a fever pitch as Damien tries raising hell on earth. Psycho is no different. Can you imagine the shower scene without the frenetic strings accentuating every stab?
Do you how sometimes a genre becomes so stale and true to formula that it becomes a joke in itself? After the Hammer icons faded out, this was the sort of movie sleazy directors released to make a quick buck. The 1950′s were not kind to spookshow cinema, relegating it to b-movie cinema at best and useless fodder at worst. Instead, like the pioneer he always was, Hitchcock handled Psycho with the same amount of artistry as anything he’s ever made. If you’re at all a fan of the horror genre, you owe the late Hitchcock a thank you. He made it respectable to be frightened.
I saw this for the first time right when it was released on Blu-ray. I blind bought it and can't believe it's taken me THIS long to finally check it out. Such a timeless film. Still as creepy as it was back in the day I'd assume. One of my favorite horror films.
Crazy thing is that it's arguably the best version of the film that's ever been released, including the theatrical version. That's what I love about blu-ray. The technology has shown amazing potential for reviving classic film.
Agreed. I always go to classic films, sometimes in black and white, to show off my setup. Anyone can see the clarity in Transformers, but not everyone understands the true value of Blu until they've seen something from the 50's, 60's or 70's in high def glory, especially a Criterion.
Do you have a favorite to show off? Overall, my go to blu is The Godfather Part II: The Coppola Restoration. Absolutely incredible. Casablanca is great as well.
The Thin Red Line, 2001 and The Island are my show off discs. The Thin Red line for its stunning visuals, 2001 for film quality and general care that WB gave the film when porting it over to Blu and The Island for visual/sound eye candy.
OH we can't forget about Blade Runner or Alien.