8¼ Pies

Reviewed by Limey

Plot Summary

A young secretary takes off across the country to visit her lover after embezzling her boss and stops to wait out the rain at the isolated Bates Motel.

Review

It is strange how even as a fan reviewer you can feel a certain responsibility when the time comes for you to critique such a legendary film as ‘Psycho’. There is of course no danger of your opinion altering its standing as one of the most important movies ever made, but that standing makes the task an intimidating one.

As I settled down in front of the television, I decided the only way to move forward was to forget popular consensus and rate it as if it were a brand new release about which I knew nothing about. Accomplishing that was surprisingly easy.

You see, while I was aware that I hadn’t watched the movie in a very long time, I was convinced I remembered everything. It turns out that all I remembered were the same things everyone remembers – the shower, the music, and the dressing gown.

Upon watching it anew, I started to wonder whether these familiarities actually do the film something of a disservice as while they serve to maintain the films position in our collective consciousness, they perhaps also overshadow how powerful the rest of the film is.

However, as the second act came to an end, I came to the conclusion that the shower scene and its aftermath perfectly encapsulate the feel of the entire film. At first there is nothing unusual. No music, no fancy camera angles or fast cuts. Just an ordinary scene. And then, completely unremarked, a shadow appears behind the curtain.

Suddenly in blasts the agitated music accompanied by the newly manic camera, marking the halfway point of the film and the death of the character that has been our anchor for the last hour. And afterwards, all is as it was before, as we watch 5 minutes of almost nothing, in complete suspense.

Quotes:

Norman Bates: I think I must have one of those faces you can't help believing.

Norman Bates: She might have fooled me, but she didn't fool my mother.

Spook Factor: ½ Pie

I cannot believe I just did that. I have to be objective though, and the fact is that while graphic and unsettling at the time, most of the scenes are incredibly tame today. The film does unnerve audiences in the new millennium thanks to how well it taps into our own fears, but widespread desensitisation still strips it of some of its power.

Antagonist: 1 Pie

Has there ever been a scarier and yet more sympathetic villain than Norman Bates? I doubt it. The time and depth given to the character, his background and his motivation perhaps still go unmatched.

Story: ¾ Pie

Has there ever been a simpler and yet more complex horror movie than ‘Psycho’? I doubt it. The best movies are those that present an intricate plot in a clear and concise manner. I do knock the score down due to the fact that the policeman and used car salesman act like total idiots.

Acting: 1 Pie

I think this would score 100% based solely on the Anthony Perkins master class. Luckily, he has able support, not least from Janet Leigh whose performance – while sometimes feeling a little dated – carries the movie for the first hour.

Directing: 1 Pie

The idea that I could award a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock anything less than a full Pie in this category is laughable. If Perkins delivered a master class in front of the camera, then Hitchcock matched him behind it.

Soundtrack: 1 Pie

A score doesn’t become iconic unless it deserves to, and boy does this one deserve to. As I said earlier, this is one of three things that everybody remembers, and even people who have never seen the movie could tell you where the music comes from. Also notable are the numerous scenes where there is no score. Incredible stuff.

Special Effects: ½ Pie

Back to my default score when it comes to movies that have little or no special effects, but aren’t the type of movie to feature them in the first place.

Gore: ½ Pie

This time though, that is the genuine score. The film achieves more with a splash of chocolate syrup and subliminal persuasion than many gorefests could ever dream of, but that doesn’t help it in this category.

Replay, Rewatch, Rewind: 1 Pie

It might take you a while, but I challenge anyone to claim they have no interest in returning to this film sometime in the future.

Pros

Practically everything.

Cons

The fact that it can feel somewhat flat if you have been weaned solely on the hardcore violence of recent horror moneymakers.

Final Word

I would be very surprised if I have said anything new about ‘Psycho’ in this review, but then what else is there to be said? Some films cannot hold out against the passage of time or live up to their reputation. While this one takes a few knocks, it still stands tall as one of the very best horror movies ever made.