Who's Psycho

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2004)

First time I saw this flick, I kept wondering, "Who's psycho?" Certainly not the real-estate woman, Marion Crane; she's criminally foolish, but not insane. And, it probably isn't her boyfriend Sam. Maybe it's that deluded "other girl" in the realty office? She IS kind of weird. But, it can't be that nice man who runs the motel. He's awkward with women and "devoted" to his invalid mother. Then, when Mother kills Marion in the shower, Norman cleans up and covers up, like a dutiful son. We'll have to cart IL' Mom off to the Looney Bin mighty soon! She's PSYCHO!! I was absolutely surprised (I was only a boy of 19) when the real psycho-killer-mad-slasher was exposed. Sure, that basement scene with the late Mrs. Bates, Norman, Lila and Sam is as contrived as the cavalry coming to the rescue at the last minute, but it sure gives your gut some big butterflies. It's just the best Hitchcock ever.