Man i really dont feel qualified enough to talk about this movie. there are entire film school lectures on this movie, and so many different things worth talking about here. i highly recommend doing your own research on the movie, or at least reading the Wikipedia page on it. and with that out of the way, here's my 2 cents on it.
this movie is pure paranoia. this film at the time was controversial for its deception of sex and violence. as soon as the movie starts, we get an unmarried couple in bed together, with Janet Leigh in just a bra and skirt. on top of the downright evil premarital sex, she is also a thief.
from the moment she steals the cash and takes off, it is pure suspense, paranoia, and unease. it reminds of walking around town with a joint in your pocket. everyone you see feels like they know you have it, and everyone seems out to get you. or maybe im just paranoid. surprisingly however, when Marion roles up to the bates motel, its a bit of a break from tension. He seems like like a strange young man, but ultimately harmless. they talk, and eventually she decides to take back the money and make things right. just when you feel like everything is going to be OK, we get the shower scene.
At this point the shower scene is absolutely iconic, and If you have never seen the movie before, you have probably seen the scene before. It starts with some vert scandalous shoulder and lower leg shots as she gets into the shower. There is no score, only the sound of running water. We see someone open the door behind her, and move toward the shower curtain. The shower curtain is then ripped open, and jarringly loud bass notes are heard as the killer begins stabbing her. She screams, tries to defend herself, and falls back onto the shower wall. As the killer leaves, she reaches out to grab the shower curtain, pulling it of the railing and onto the floor. The music stops as we see blood going down the drain, then a close up shot or her eye that slowly zooms out. One more shot of the shower head, and it’s over.
one of the most powerful scenes in cinema history, Psycho earns that title with its constant subverting of your expectations. despite its famous shower scene, i think the ending deserves more conversation. that ending scene is my favorite part of the whole movie. the mothers monologue gives us a interesting look at how Norman thinks. This film has earned its spot as one of the best horror movies ever made.
10/10
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