Everyone's a little crazy

Rating: Null/10 (19 February 2004)

40,000 dollars in stolen money, a beautiful woman and a lonely motel owner combine to create one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever created for the big screen. Alfred Hitchcock, the undisputed `Master of Suspense', does his best work with this film. After just one viewing, it's easy to see why this film is rated so highly on the AFI's 100 best list and countless other film review lists.	Right from the opening shots of the movie, you can tell it's the work of a master. Well executed camera movements drop you right into the story and you're hooked from there on. Fantastic photography in classic black and white is accentuated by great lighting. The film style and lighting combine to create eerie shadows and an overall sense of uneasiness that's hard not to notice. In addition, composer Bernard Hermann lends one of the most chilling and well recognized scores to the film, adding even more to the thrilling layers of the story.
`Psycho' is more of a psychological thriller than a horror flick, contrary to what a lot of people think. It's a film that's comparable to Silence of the Lambs, if you can compare the two. The thing that makes this film such a thriller is the great acting from the stars, Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. Perkins is evil at times and friendly at others. He pulls off one of the best schizophrenic acting gigs ever recorded on film. Leigh and Perkins have very good chemistry together, especially in the scene which takes place in the motel parlor. Very creepy.
`Psycho' is a well written and filmed piece of work. It's such a terrifying story that's made even more so by good technical execution. It's a gripping story with some good twists that leads up to a terrifying climax. It's a good thrill even for those squeamish few who don't enjoy blood. It's more of a mental horror from one of the best creators of suspense films. This is one of Hitchcock's best works. Check it out and you won't take a shower for a week.

Overall grade for `Psycho': A