#5 Psycho

FILMS FOR THOUGHT

By: Alex Holzum

     I think it is important to clarify that I will be referring to the rendition of Psycho from the 1960s, featuring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates and Vera Miles as Lila Crane.  Also, this blog post will most likely ruin the beginning and ending of this film (and therefore pretty much everything else in between).  I suggest that if you have not seen it and are highly concerned with your potential viewing experience that you skim over the words and just look at the bottom where I will say why I'm recommending it and explanations of a couple of links that I attach.  If you have seen this movie, then hopefully this is just a nice supplement to your previous viewing experience. I watched this in my film class senior year and learned a bunch of cool facts about it that I am now passing on to you.

   This film was groundbreaking for its time period for a few reasons:

1.  The opening scene MILDLY implies that pre-marital sex took place (this was evidently a big deal in films in the 60s and is rated R partly because of this).
2.  The shower scene was the fastest and most frames shot up to this point.
3.  The soundtrack was a compilation of only stringed instruments.
4.  They used chocolate sauce for blood (it is in black and white, so the color didn't really matter).
5.  It piddles with the idea of mental illness.
6.  Crafty film angles.
7.  They kill off the main character 1/2 way through the movie and we realize who the main character actually is.

    This is my favorite scary movie because it completely lies to you and screws you over.  For the majority of the movie, we think that Lila Crane is our character; she is the one through which we are seeing this movie.  Well hold on tight because we're going to kill her and leave you scared and alone while exploring this film. (<-- this is what I imagine Alfred Hitchcock thinking).  Woop, what do you know, this movie is not about theft, it's about murder and a psychopath! Just in case anybody decided to continue reading even without watching this movie, I'm going to stop here because I would hate myself for ruining anything else for you.

 As mentioned earlier, Alfred Hitchcock is the genius behind this film.  I do not know too much about him, but from the previews that he makes about his films, I think he's hilarious.  Watch this one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps8H3rg5GfM

If you want to actually see more of what the movie is about, then watch this one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG3-GlvKPcg

This movie is legitimately fantastic and, once again, I HIGHLY recommend it.