Impressions

Rating: Null/10 (6 December 1998)

I didn't find Psycho deathly scary (the shower scene was too quick, I'll have to watch it again.) But the violent scenes did scare me and are all memorable. The Old Dark House that Norman Bates lives in (with his Mother), his wholesomeness, his habit of eating something (I don't know what) while he talks with the detective, his freakish smile, are all memorable. The ways in which Norman Bates' eyes change expression just in conversation with Marion is incredible.
Hitchcock claimed Psycho was a big comedy. He was exaggerating, but some of it is--the first third is suspenseful but funny, especially the office banter and the close-up mugshot of the cop. Hitchcock was frightened of the police as a child, and it shows. The last comedic scene is the psychiatrist. His purpose isn't really to explain Norman Bates to us, but to bring us back into banal daily life so abruptly that we laugh. Then Hitch draws up our hackles again with the shot of Norman Bates sitting alone, and the car being dredged up.
Finally the cinematography in this movie is godly. I know zero about film criticism, but I can see the beauty and symmetry of every shot. The sets are clean and free of distractions. The light is awesome. The dark is awesome. The movie is awesome.