Sunday, July 14, 2013

363. Psycho

Psycho

1960
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock










This is by far the scariest film I have ever seen in my life.  I am judging this not by how I feel about it now (though I am still wary of shower curtains) but how I felt the first time I had seen it. I remember watching it for the first time with my sister and consequently sleeping in her room during the night.  I woke up screaming that night and the following morning I insisted on a buddy system being implemented in our house.

Now considering the fact that most people who watch this film aren't fifteen year old girls who have never seen a scary movie before like I was, you might not have such a visceral reaction.  However, I think the score, the performances, and the creepy way the killer prowls are enough to make anyone lock their bathroom door before taking a shower.

Marion Crane takes off with her boss's money with plans to run away with her boyfriend.  She decides to stop at the Bates Motel due to the heavy rain.  One thing leads to another and long story short, my brother is playing the Psycho theme outside the bathroom while I am taking a shower and I am crying.

All right, so obviously I found this movie terrifying.  However, it is also one of my favorite movies.  The fact that Alfred Hitchcock was able to scare people with a mere silhouette is extremely impressive. The twist is shocking and surprisingly still original.  One of the greatest horror films of all time.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Hitchcock bought as many copies of the novel as he could in an attempt to keep the ending secret.

Before Marion steals the money her purse and bra are white.  However, after she takes the cash, her purse and underwear are black.  This was an attempt by Alfred Hitchcock to show Marion's transition from good to evil.

First movie in America to show a toilet flush.

#14 in AFI's top 100.

Janet Leigh took baths for the rest of her life after watching the shower scene.

HITCHCOCK RADAR: Four minutes in outside Marion's office.

Ahhhhhhh

5 comments:

  1. The first movie that scared the shit out of my was Ghostbusters. 11 year old in the cinema alone, probably not a good idea.
    How many movies are so iconic that here, 57 years later, people still know and reference its scenes. Do the violin sound and everybody know what you are doing.

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    1. Lol which part scared you? I just used the "we all go a little mad sometimes" quote recently and the person I was talking to didn't get it.:(

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  2. I guess it was a gradual build-up, but when the statues outside the library came alive I had had enough. Teaches you to take age restrictions serious, I suppose. Today it is one of my favorite movies and I pretend they did not commit the recent atrocity.

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  3. I honestly think this film is ableist

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    1. Yep, not much sympathy for mental illness here.

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