Psycho (1960)- Alfred Hitchcock

When you think of great American directors, what are some names that come to mind? Let's see...Orson Wells, John Ford, etc. etc. And of course, you think of Alfred Hitchcock, which is awkward because he was actually British. But whatever.

Alfred Hitchcock is hands-down one of the most influential and prolific directors in American history. He was a total badass who not only contributed to the craft of filmmaking through innovative filmmaking techniques, but also made freakishly entertaining movies.

He's such a big name in film that you may have even questioned my credibility because it's taken me this long to write about one of his movies. Either way, Psycho is a film that has withstood the test of time that still haunts modern viewers.




Find the IMDb summary here.

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Question posed for this screening: What are some moments in the film that are purely cinematic? 

Moment 1. The geometry used during the shower scene, particularly the pattern of round shapes

These are stills from probably the most famous scene in film history- the shower scene in which Janet Leigh's character (Marion Crane) gets stabbed in the shower to the creepiest music ever.

What's awesome about these moments are that these would be something that a book would probably not describe, since they are not narratively significant at all. Moreover, if someone was giving a brief synopsis of the movie to someone who had never seen it, these 3 moments would go unmentioned.

They are just there to create the vibe and environment of the scene, and my guess is that many people wouldn't even realize that they contribute to the creepy vibe of the scene: it's a subtle, perhaps even subconscious thing. 

Another important thing that these 3 moments show is the extreme attention to detail that Hitchcock paid to the visuals of his films. Apparently, Hitchcock was quite the control freak and micromanaged literally everything in his films. Hey, it seemed to work out well for him. 

Moment 2. The use of an overhead shot when upstairs in the Bates mansion, which is also geometric

Functionally, this shot prevents the viewer from seeing Bate's mother's face (or who we believe to be his mother). Aesthetically, the shot establishes another geometric shape, which brings to mind a maze. What's neat is that the physical maze extends to a figurative maze of the mind...a maze that Hitchcock has all of us run through like mice. And the best part is, I don't mind at all. 

Moment 3. Shot of Norman Bates overlayed with shot of mother's skull

For me, this is probably the most creepy and unnerving part of the whole movie. It perfectly sums up the visually the chaos and confusion that is happening in Norman's mind, which is a split between himself and his mother. This moment would have been extremely difficult to reproduce in any other medium because it changes and happens so quickly. I actually had to rewind the film to make sure that it had really happened the first time I saw it. Guh, it gives me chills just to think about it.

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Rating: Let's be honest, I shouldn't even have to convince you to see this movie. If you need convincing, there is something wrong with YOU. If you haven't seen this movie, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD do yourself a favor and watch it immediately. No really, put everything down and watch it NOW. HE KILLS OFF HIS MAIN CHARACTER LESS THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOVIE, FOR PETE'S SAKE. No really. Watch it. Why are you still reading this?!? GO WATCH IT!