Member review

Psycho (1960) is a psychological thriller by Alfred Hitchcock which is renowned for being a cornerstone of classic cinema, known for pushing the boundaries of not just what is allowed to be shown on screen but the innovative ways in which it can be shown which has led to a lasting legacy as a film that’s known across generations and as the inspiration for the entire slasher genre.

The film follows Marion, a young woman who has grown tired of the monotony of daily life and longs for nothing more than a serious relationship leading to her stealing an envelope of cash from her job and running away to meet up with her boyfriend. Unfortunately for her she is forced to stop at the bates motel along the way where she comes into contact with the strange and introverted owner and his abusive mother, an encounter which she would not leave alive. The disappearance of her and the money would not go however, with her sister and boyfriend joining up with a private investigator to try and track her down.

The films best feature is its incredible sound design, most notably it’s terrifying soundtrack that has become an iconic horrifying theme which has made its way into a number of other media to terrify new audiences and has also inspired almost all other music in the horror genre.

The film was criminally underrated at the time due to the stigma around the horror genre and the incredibly uptight and conservative “moral” restrictions which severely limited the amount of violence shown on screen. Despite this the film was still highly controversial thanks both its violence and female nudity, even if both now seem quite tame by todays standards.

Ultimately, the film is famous for a reason, with its incredible script and beautiful cinematography, there’s no wonder as to why this film is renowned over 60 years after it released.