The Master shows how to make a film

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2005)

According to history, at the end of the 50s Hitchcock saw that many low-budget films were gaining many audience; knowing the flaws in those films, he decided to try to make a low-budget film and see what happened when in his words "an experienced director" does a low budget film. The result was "Psycho".
Loosely based on Robert Bloch's novel of the same name, "Psycho" is a superbly done film in almost every aspect, and shows the perfection of Hitchcock's technique. The Master was at that time at the peak of his art.
Scripwriter Joseph Stefano makes a different take on Bloch's novel and tells the story of Marion Crane, a woman who in an impulsive act steals $40 thousand dollars from her boss; in her escape, she spends the night at the Bates Motel, only to discover the dark secret that hides the owners, Norman Bates and his mother.
Done with a budget of $800,000, "Psycho" is perfectly conceived as it never goes too far from what it pretends to do. Hitchcock worked closely to Stefano in order to know exactly what type of take he was going to do.
Filmed in Black and White in a time when color was already the dominant format, the sharp contrast between light and darkness is a beautiful remark of what lies hidden inside Bates Motel.
Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, Marion and Norman respectively, give an outstanding performance in their roles. Perkins clearly dominates the character of Norman and it is obvious why was he type-casted as Bates, his performance and the character is so well developed by the script that is impossible to not feel empathy for him.
Many words could be written about Psycho, but all that must be said is that this film shows what film-making is about. The perfect mixture of art and entertainment. Now, after many parodies, homages and sequels, the movie still retains its power and it is definitely, one of the movies every person in the world should see at least once. 10/10. Masterpiece.