Two Psychos in This Movie?

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2007)

Yes, we all know that Norman Bates was a psycho, but I tend to think that Marian was, too, to a lesser degree. It seemed that from the beginning of the movie until she was murdered, she was becoming more unhinged. She seemed paranoid throughout all her scenes, always looking over her shoulder, always nervous. Of course, she had reason to be, but something about these scenarios she played in her head while she was driving to Fairvale seemed unreal. Also, that cop that followed her to California was very unnerving. I sometimes wonder if that was real or a dream, or is Hitch leaving us to decide for ourselves if it is or not. Again, this scene seemed surreal. (That cop looked freaky. Like a commandant of a Nazi concentration camp or something.) Wasn't that Robert Stack who played the gentleman who sold her the car? It sure looked and sounded like him.
This is another case of a beautifully crafted story. The way they played up the Norman/mother thing was just pure gold, what can I say? In 1960, this was probably pretty risqué, the opening scene showing Marion in a bra and a night slip in a cheap motel. Also, as I recall wasn't it kind of uncommon to show toilets in a bathroom in the movies? I know the codes were pretty strict back then. And the murder scene. Stephen King mentioned in his book DANSE MACABRE that you never actually see the knife striking Marion. You know what? He's right. I've seen this film dozens of times since I read that book and you don't see the knife actually striking her. Your imagination shows you that. But that movie has a helluva kicker at the end. I'm sure there are still one or two people out there who haven't seen it, so I won't spoil it for them. This is the only Hitchcock movie I have, and it's a doozy. A really great film from a legendary story teller. 9 out of 10.