Psycho, a 1960's psychological thriller created by Alfred Hitchcock, is a deeply suspenseful film about a young man, Norman Bates, who is isolated from reality along a forgotten freeway where he owns a string of cabins for travelers. Unsuspecting to anyone, unusual and timid Norman is actually a vicious murderer plagued with a psychological problem caused by his unusual relationship with his long dead mother. Heading in the direction of The Bates Motel, is a young Marion, a real-estate secutary from Phoenix, running from the Law after stealing a large amount of money from her workplace.
Why was Psycho such a blockbuster hit? And how has it maintained it's popularity over the years surpassing all the other horror films coming to our screens? This black and white, low-budget film was brilliantly edited and it's simple structure flawlessly mastered the art of suspense as it guided the audience through the story of the elaborate nature of the mind. It seems that the real success with this film has to be due to its trademark shower scene, and deeper into the scene it would be the high pitched, shrieking of the scratching violin which the director seems to have applied to any scene which may have any type of suspense in it, whether it just be Marion driving in her car fleeing from her crimes, or in the renowned shower scene which would not have been nearly as frightening if it hadn't been for the background music.
The disturbing themes within the film explore corruption and confused identity of it's charters, human vulnerability, the deadly temptations of money, the fascination and complexities of the human mind, murder in its true and raw form and the consequences of life's actions.
Psycho also broke all film conventions by displaying its leading female character, Janet Leigh, having a lunchtime affair in her sexy white underwear in the first scene; this was unheard of during this period in film, and Hitchcock made a very bold decision to show an actress in her underwear during his film. This scene not only showed Hitchcock's courage to show such a somewhat provocative scene, it also showed literary technique and a more meaningful insight into the way the audience saw the Marion, first as an innocent character and once she committed the crime, Marion is seen wearing black lingerie showing her change of character throughout the beginning of the film.
Considering that Psycho has been seen as one of films greatest thrillers, violence is only present for about two minutes in total on the film. In about a third of the way through, during the shower murder scene and the second when a Phoenix detective named Arbogast is stabbed at the top of a flight of stairs and topples backwards down the staircase. This reminds us that all the horror and suspense is created in the mind of the audience.
Like many of Hitchcock's films, Psycho is extremely layered and complex, and filled with brilliant and memorable editing which creates a strong involvement in the film and the plot for it's audience. Although it's one of the most frightening films ever made, it has many hidden techniques which creates the perfect elements of a great dark film.
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