Psycho, horror movies, and metaphors in psycho

Rating: 10/10 (10 April 2006)

Pitch perfect. Every single frame of this film was shot by a genius, and a Genius Hitchcock was. psycho still remains as one of the greatest horror movies of all times. Is it more then just a "Hooror Movie." I mean this term has been used very commonly but has been perspective very falsely. When people hear the word "Horror Movie" they think of butcher knifes into teenage beauties and screaming but no real meaning. In my opinion this is not true. Throughout history, horror movies have had many metaphoric and subtle yet deep meanings. Even the goriest as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) is not just a movie about a guy in a mask chopping up teenagers.
Now, about Psycho, this movie is very interesting. Starting with a plot about a young woman, Marion, who steals forty thousand dollars (More like 400 thousand now according to inflation) to have enough money with Sam, her lover, and live with him. When she gets passed the salesman and policeman she creates other people's conversation in her head as she heads off in the Bates Motel.
As the viewer is interested in Marions life a brand new character is introduced, Norman Bates. If you notice Norman is very persistent that she calls him Norman instead of Mr. Bates. Twice he corrects her. This, i feel, is him trying to separate from his mother. He feels so controlled by his mother he doesn't want to be Mr. Bates, which contains his mother's last name in it, he wants to be Norman, himself. Now, as they talk about being stuck in a trap, both of the characters have been trapped into a situation. Norman with his mother, Marion with her money.
Both characters have many similarities, split personalities, etc. And I think that is the main reason Norman felt such an attraction to her. Not because of her beauty and charm, but him and her connection. As she leaves he looks through a hole to watch her dress. (Notice what painting he removes from the wall, one depicting a rape) Here he watches her, like one of his stuffed birds, while she undress.
I notice both their names have a lot to do with their reasoning in the plot. Norman "Bates" as he is awaiting to be caught, and Marion "Crane" a bird she is to catch Norman.
Anyways, now Marion gets nude and takes a shower. Earlier she suggested returning the money so now the audience is nice and happy. As she is taking a shower, we notice a slight blur in the background. This blur turns into a maniac silhouette mother stabbing the young and innocent nude, blonde bombshell with her 12 inch long butcher knife.
What makes the shower scene so intense is not the loud, intense music but the shots, from down watching the knife coming at you, to the mouth of Marion screaming in terror while a the violin is screeching.
I have a lot to say, theme-wise about this film but then this will be too long, if you want to know give me a private message and I will send you all my reasoning for many lines.