Hitchock's Most Famous Film, And Probably His Best.

Rating: 10/10 (1 June 2006)

"Psycho" is one of the greatest horror classics of all time. The film follows Marion Crane, played by the legendary Janet Leigh, embezzles $40,000 from her employer. She goes and buys a brand new car with the cash, and hits the road to start a new life. That night she gets caught in a really bad rainstorm in the desert, and she spots the bright lighted sign of the Bates Motel, which she decides will be her destination for now. She checks in, and the owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), makes her a sandwich. He seems nice, if not a little strange. She then goes to her room, undresses, while Norman spies through a hole in the wall.She enters the bathroom, and begins taking a shower. And I'm sure most of you know what happens from there on. Anyways, Marion's sister and lover begin to worry about her disappearance and hire a detective to investigate.
"Psycho" is a true classic, plain and simple, and one of the best horror films in history. The whole story (based on the book by Robert Bloch) is very interesting and the film keeps you guessing, because you never really know who Norman's mother is - the mystery shrouded around it all is effective and eerie. The infamous shower scene is now known by thousands of people, so it's kind of trademarked this series of films (although all of the sequels are awful besides "Psycho II", which was just alright), and the editing of the scene defines the "less is more" saying. The tricky editing used fools the audience into thinking they are seeing more than they are, and it is brilliantly done.
After Marion's murder, Janet Leigh's presence is felt like a ghost throughout the rest of the film, while her sister and boyfriend try and find her. Anthony Perkins is near perfection as the kind but strange Norman Bates, he gives the character much depth and a feeling of unease. Janet Leigh is excellent as well in the role of her career as the ill-fated Marion. The film is black and white, which gives it that classic movie feel, I like old black and white movies, although you don't see very many horror ones. The pacing is excellent and the film holds interest wonderfully. The ending is a bit of shocker, and that final frame is one you won't shake easily.
Ovearll, this is probably Hitchcock's best film ever. The story is great, the acting (especially by Perkins and Leigh) was pitch perfect, and the film was genuinely scary with some a heavy doses of suspense. The shower scene is classic, too - if there is one scene in all of Hollywood history that won't be forgotten, that shower murder is it. Undeniably one of the greatest horror films in history. 10/10.