Good, but not really Classic

Rating: 8/10 (14 June 1999)

I'm not sure what to think about this movie. I'm sure in 1960 it was amazing and the most overwhelming experience movie viewers ever had. Now, it's too outdated to be suspenseful or scary. How can this be called a perfect movie? The acting isn't that good, first of all, and the performances feel forced. The conversation between Norman and Marion wasn't really chilling, but hard to sit through. I have to admit I like the "mother twist". Renting this movie about 8 months ago, I liked it better the night I watched it but have since changed my mind. I didn't know that "mother" was phony and was shocked at the surprise at the end, even though I knew Norman was the killer.
Is this supposed to be evidence of Hitchcock's "genius"? The "let's find Marion" subplot is really dumb, and there actually is no official plot. He just made it to try and scare people. And what's with all the furor over the shower scene??? Now that isn't suspenseful at all. You probably think I'm someone who doesn't appreciate classics, but this is about the only one that doesn't cut it for me. The true mark of a classic is the ability to have the same effect a long time in the future. Citizen Kane does, this doesn't. A good film to watch, but nothing like people make it out to be.