The movie that defines horror.

Rating: 10/10 (3 December 2013)

The only thing I remembered about this movie growing up was the famous shower scene, as it was the most disturbing and defining scene of terror I have seen at that time. I kept thinking to myself - that poor woman going through such pain and horror.
I didn't see the entire movie until I was an adult, and it was better than I have expected - superb and believable acting; a plot full of suspense, intrigue and excitement; eerie and very haunting music; a fast-paced story; and unforgettable tastes of drama and pure horror.
This movie is what I think is one of director Alfred Hitchcock's best work, a story about Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a Phoenix secretary who steals $40,000 from her employer's client so she could start a new life with her boyfriend, Sam Loomis (John Gavin). While on the way to meet up with him, she checks into a remote motel run by the mysterious Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), whose life is apparently dominated by his mother's presence.
For a movie made in 1960, it has stood well the test of time. "Psycho" is a movie that relies on the on-screen drama, suspense and mystery of the characters (and of course the shower scene) for its scare factor - minus the over-the-top gore/violence, silly humor and sex scenes you would normally see in teenage slasher movies or Friday the 13th and Elm Street-type flicks. We are asked to understand the struggles and eerie life Norman Bates go through and the vulnerability of Marion Crane.
This movie appeared to be filmed with such ease and with the right amount of effort that it delivered an excellent motion picture - no overacting, no overdone effects, no over-the-top stuff - just the perfect balance for pure entertainment.
Grade A