Psycho (1960)

Brilliant, mesmerizing, shocking ...

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 9, 2006

Pros: EVERYTHING!!!!

Cons: Not a damn thing

Many people site Tobe Hooper's cult classic "A Texas Chainsaw Massacre" as being the fore-bearer of the slasher genre. Nothing can be further from the truth. Before Leatherface got his chainsaw, before Myers killed his sister, before Fr...eddy terrorized teens in their nightmares, and before Jason got his machete ... Norman Bates slashed a helpless woman with a butcher's knife in one of film's most famous sequences ever filmed. It has simply become known as "the shower scene". Unlike "Friday the 13th" or "Halloween" sequels, the "PSYCHO" sequels expanded the emotional depth of the psyche and struggles of the shy but disturbed Norman Bates. This alone makes "Psycho" the standout horror franchise in my eyes. But what can be said about Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror classic that hasn't been said before. Brilliant? Yes. Mesmerizing? Absolutely! Shocking? No doubt about it. But yet these words have been rendered meaningless over the years as scores of films have been labeled as such. There are no words that can truly describe "Psycho" without undermining its greatness. Flawlessly shot, Robert Bloch's novel was upgraded and brought to life with the help of screenwriter Joseph Stefano's clever dialog, Hitchcock's direction and the brilliant performance of the great Anthony Perkins. Plus it should not go unsaid that Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, and Martin Balsam also turn in strong performances as do small roles played by Frank Albertson, John Anderson and John McIntire. As Norman Bates, however, Anthony Perkins brought a wide array emotions to the character that was inspired by real life serial killer, Ed Gein. Norman was sympathetic and shy, but yet disturbing and at times, even polite. Miraculously Perkins seemed to pull it off with great ease in his Oscar worthy performances. There is no denying that Anthony Perkins' portrayal of Norman Bates was the major factor in the success of not only the original film but also the three sequels that would follow. Read more Less