Psycho (1960)

Tense, twisted and profoundly morally disturbed, cinematic masterpiece ‘Psycho’ is the epitome of archetypical Hitchcockian suspense. Marian Crane (Janet Leigh) is a glamorous Hollywood blonde, cruelly thrust into a world of violence, deceit and animal-like aggression. Tragically destined, the bloody entrails she leaves behind eventually lead the remaining characters into unveiling the hidden horrors of the sinister Bates Motel.

‘Psycho’ is a cinematic classic that, unlike many designated ‘classics’ of old Hollywood, still manages to live up to its reputation today. The notorious shower scene is as terrifying as it is masterfully shot, the iconic camera ‘twist’ on Leigh’s eyes as stunning as it is deeply disconcerting. New viewers may be surprised to discover that this seemingly climatic moment is merely one in a long series of periodic spasms of violence, embedded in a film that never fails to shock, turning everything one thought they knew on its head.

While technically masterful and visually striking, there is still much to be said about Hitchcock’s treatment of the social world. Leigh’s character is the archetypal Hollywood heroine: a young, beautiful woman destined to face a grisly death, clawing at the edges of a social cage in which she is destined to never escape. The psycho themselves even manage to have their blame narratively removed, forced upon an entirely innocent female individual. And of course there is the eternally relevant mental health debate, and the infamous ‘transvestite’ comment that marks what is probably the most politically incorrect yet funniest scene in the entire film.

While it impossible not to regard films of the past with a distinctly modern critical eye, it doesn’t make ‘Psycho’ any less a treat to both the senses and the mind. Hitchcock provides both a visually and narratively stimulating film, one which vividly depicts the volatile state of human emotions while blatantly and unashamedly manipulating that of our own. And besides, picking apart an old film’s contemporary flaws is part of the fun.