Psycho (1960) - A Movie Review

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"Psycho" was released in 1960. It's a psychological horror film written by Joseph Stefano based on a 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The movie was produced and directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock. At first critics didn't think much of the movie; however, it did so well at the box office that they were forced to give it another look. Now the film is considered to be one of the best movies of all time. It is also considered to be the first slasher film. With an approximate $800,000 budget, the film brought in $50 million dollars at the box office! The movie was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Janet Leigh for Best Supporting Actress and Alfred Hitchcock for Best Director. CAST Anthony Perkins - Norman Bates Janet Leigh - Marion Crane Vera Miles - Lila Crane John Gavin - Sam Loomis Martin Balsam - Private Investigator Milton Arbogast John McIntire - Deputy Sheriff Al Chambers Simon Oakland - Dr. Fred Richman Frank Albertson - Tom Cassidy Pat Hitchcock - Caroline Vaughn Taylor - George Lowery Lurene Tuttle - Mrs. Chambers John Anderson - California Charlie Mort Mills - Highway Patrol Officer As they've done many times before, Marion Crane and her boyfriend, Sam Loomis meet at a Phoenix, Arizona, motel during Marion's lunch break from her secretarial job with a real estate company. They have been discussing that because of Sam's debts, they cannot afford to get married. When Marion returns to work after lunch, a client leaves a $40,000 cash payment on some property. Marion is to deposit the money in the bank. Marion complains of a headache and is allowed to leave work early. When she gets home she makes the decision to take the money and drive to Fairvale, California, where Sam lives. Unfortunately, she is seen leaving town. On the way to Fairvale Marion becomes very tired, pulls over to the side of the road and falls asleep. A State Patrol Officer knocks on her window and wakes her up. Marion immediately starts the car and drives away. Suspicious, the Officer follows her. Marion stops in Bakersfield, California, to trade her car with Arizona license plates for another car with California license plates. The Officer watches with interest from across the street. She runs into a heavy downpour and pulls over to spend the night at the Bates Motel. To find out what happens next, you will have to watch the movie. For its time, this was the scariest movie I had ever seen. Many people across the nation were afraid to take a shower after seeing this movie. Anthony Perkins is perfect as Norman Bates; and Janet Leigh plays her character, Marion Crane, equally well. It goes without saying that Alfred Hitchcock did an outstanding job of directing. I can't go into any detail without talking about some of the spoilers! If you've never seen "Psycho", I highly recommend that you watch it at least once. It's a black-and-white movie; but you'll never even notice...In fact, it may give it that "film noir" feeling. This movie is Rated R. Photo Credit: Pixabay