The other film that was based on Ed Gein

Rating: Null/10 (9 April 2004)

Ed Gein was a mid-west farmer who's unnatural relationship with his mother led to a very troubled life that had tragic consequences for some of his town's inhabitants. Ed's story inspired two horror or "slasher" films - this and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". "Psycho" was in fact based on a story that was based on Ed and made a classic by Hitchcock, who may have set one of the big rules for the "slasher" genre - sex and death are linked.

The film both made a star of and typecast Anthony Perkins, who proved to be most memorable as the title character, AKA: Norman Bates. Anthony reprised the Bates role in three sequels. Part of the key as to why this film worked as that Anthony Perkins, tall, gangly, shy and down cast in demeanor, didn't look psychotic, whereas Vince Vaughn, who took his role in the remake, does.

Bates encounters fugitive on the run Marion Crane becomes infatuated with her, but "mother" disapproves of her and kills her in the shower. Then Marion's sister Lila (Vera Miles, one of the Tarzans ex-wives if I'm not mistaken, Gordon Scott I think) and boyfriend Sam Loomis (later the name of the doctor in "Halloween") come looking for her and the horrible truth about Norman and "mother" is revealed. Watch it at night with no one around.