Showering is for suckers

Rating: Null/10 (20 February 2004)

Classic as well as classy, Psycho brought more to the table than your average wannabe slasher movie.
This film had all the right elements: a good solid plot/storyline filled with scandal, deceit, horror and MURDER which was all backed up with excellent camera work, cinematography, and good old fashioned directing from the one and only, Alfred Hitchcock.
Being a Hitchcock creation, there is much to be expected from the flick and needless to say, the man delivered to the fullest. Well-choreographed camera movements strongly portrayed the emotion of each character within the shots and captured the audience's attention right from the get-go. Every shot had life and individuality. Creative camera angles and close-ups illustrated the characters' movements/interactions with Swiss precision. The shadows that were used in the murder scenes were a nice touch. This gave away the premonition that obviously, something bad was about to happen, but was still very intimidating and spooky and worked well with the classic black and white tinge the film was presented in.
The film's soundtrack did more than just add suspense. The music made the scene a lot more believable and provided a brilliant hook for the viewer to latch onto. The gut-wrenching stroke of each string given by Herrmann's mini orchestra brought out the obvious emotions in every scene it accompanied whether it was worry, fear, despair, etc.
The inner monologues were another nice touch. If the shots and the soundtrack weren't enough for the audience, Norman and Marion's inner monologues filled in the blanks. They both showed not only their thoughts, but also, their persona. It allowed the audience to tap into their minds and really see what was going on inside of them.
Of course you can't talk about Psycho, without talking about the legendary shower scene. Honestly, this reviewer got more than a few hearty laughs in when watching this `horrific' display of violence. The scene was obviously needed, but could've been a lot more believable. The sound effects were okay, but the actual knife slashing and the body contact weredare I sayCHEAP! This reviewer is fully aware that it was the 1960's, but come on! Hitchcock was a cinematic genius! He could've made the scene a little less comical and a lot more horrifying. But hey, it was good, almost as good as the ending. Now this reviewer doesn't like to reveal secrets, but would like to say that the ending may not have the same effect to a modern-day audience as it did to a 1960's audience, because inconceivable endings like this one have been duplicated and butchered by following directors over the past 40 years. Just try to keep in mind that this film is an original masterpiece and maybe, you'll see a hint of Hitchock's creativity and brilliance.
All in all, it was an superb film. This psychological thriller undoubtedly deserves the prestige and positive reviews it has received from countless critics. It has set the standard for what a good cinematic thriller should be. Psycho is for anyone who loves a good mystery and/or overall excellent film. Do not let the black and white discourage you, instead, embrace it and welcome it. You'll learn to appreciate it with this film. Weathering years of positive and negative criticism it is obvious that this is the work of a genius and has every right to be called, one of the greatest films of all time. STOP READING AND GO WATCH THIS MOVIE!