Year of release: 1960

Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller/Slasher

Run time: 1 hr 49 mins

Imdb rating: 8.5/10

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin

Plot summary:
Stressed and under pressure because of stealing a large amount of money from her employer and running away, a partly poor office worker, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), who's committed theft in order to be able to marry the man she loves, gets lost and decides to stay at a motel for the night, regretting what she's done. But on her single night at the Bates motel, she finds out it was a mistake to choose this motel, as she finds its young depressed manager, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and his mother an unrelenting psycho.
( - Source: imdb.com)

Why do I recommend: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is one of the best horror thrillers and most celebrated movie of all times. He not only created a blazing masterpiece and a new cinematic genre - the slasher, but also delivered one of the boldest blows in screen history. It was not just how he killed Janet Leigh's Marion Crane, astonishing though that was - it was when. The film is 109 minutes long, but he offs his heroine, after just 47. In 1960, this generated, by all accounts, an unprecedented sense of careering into uncharted and terrifying territory: what the hell would happen next? Even now, it's distinctly unnerving. I'm sure you are all aware of the famous shower scene. (If not, you can Google it anytime)

No matter how prepared you are, how many times you see it, it's almost impossible not to flinch. Numerous scenes in the movie will make you squirm in the seat, and almost all the time you'll be at the edge of your seat, eyes widened, and fingers drumming your knees. That's how powerful the anticipation is in every scene.

Anthony Perkins' acting is highly applaudible. Not even for a second would you feel that it'sa movie you're watching. It's so believable and realistic that you feel a part of the Bates Motel. The eerie background score contributes to the dark and horrifying atmosphere in the movie. Slow motion shots, long pause shots, aerial shots etc add to the cinematographic experience. Hitchcock's weapon was suspense. The abrupt and immediate cuts to a totally different view point makes you believe you're a part of the plot. All the characters are portrayed brilliantly. You end up feeling bad for the antagonist, even after hearing the truth in the climax. That's the kind of manipulation Hitchcock has managed to pull.

Of course, Hitchcock's mischievous genius for audience manipulation is everywhere: in the angularity of the cinematography, in his use of Bernard Herrmann's stabbing string score, in the imagery that creates a bizarre sense of preying and being preyed upon.

The movie deals with a lot of grim and serious issues, and the nature of the movie is such, that it may not be advisable for people with heart problems or for children. Parental guidance would be needed.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, because that's the worst thing to do. But, I can warn you that this movie will floor you. Full and square. I have personally seen a lot of Hitchcock movies and Psycho is my ultimate favourite.

If you are a mystery thriller fan like me, trust me, you'll love this masterpiece.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let me know if you decide to watch this film! 😊

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