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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Psycho (1960) in Movies

Oct 4, 2020

Psycho (1960)

1960 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller

8.7

(114 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Psycho is a true all-timer, in every sense of the phrase. It still holds up now, as well as it ever did and is simply a masterclass in suspense cinema.

Anthony Perkins is fantastic as Norman Bates. He makes the character both approachable and sinister, subtly suggesting just how unhinged he is as the narrative steams forward.
The pacing in Psycho is perfect, even before Marion Crane pulls into the Bates Motel. It successfully reels you in from the films opening (and incredible music score) and just doesn't let you until the end.
Marion Crane is of course played by Janet Leigh. She has a hypnotizing presence thought the runtime, with every line of dialogue feeling important. Her performance alongside Perkins is a huge part of what makes Psycho such a classic.

Hitchcock achieved some truly magnificent shots here as well. The infamous shower scene has rightly earned it's place in cinema history, but it's easy to forget just how chilling it is when you see a shadowy figure through the shower curtain, silently enter the room. True nightmare fuel. Another favourite moment is the overhead shot when Bates flys out of his mother's room to attack Arbogast. Makes me jump every damn time.
Bernard Herrmanns score compliments all of this wonderfully as well. It's a timeless score that is constantly frantic whilst simultaneously beautiful. Much like Jaws, it's almost impossible to think of the film without hearing parts of the iconic music theme.

Psycho is a solid masterpiece that remains effective to this day. It's the perfect thriller, and in some ways, the perfect horror.

Kudos

The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

6.8 (10 Ratings) Rate It

Movie

Mary, the wife is newspaper columnist John Klein, is hospitalized after a car crash. Before dying of...

Hamlet (1990)

7.3 (3 Ratings) Rate It

Movie Watch

Treachery. Madness. Murder. The story of Hamlet has been told for 400 years...but it's never been...

Bats & Wind Energy: Literature Synthesis, Annotated Bibliography & Assessment Methodology on Population Impact

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(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Deborah (162 KP) rated Riseley: Our Village in Books

Dec 21, 2018

Nice local history book produced by residents for the millennium. My Grandma's family are from this village so lots of familiar names. Also a photo and some anecdotes from Grandma (Ida Bates, nee Hancock) were a nice touch from a personal perspective. There's also a photo of my great-great grandfather (although not noted in the text) and of 'Tink' Hancock, who would have been a great-great uncle. The section on the church was written by Phillip Nicholls, who is a cousin on another side of the family! Lots of interest for me here, as you can see.