I’m not a fan of scary movies. In fact, I can barely watch them. These are the horror movies that I have watched in my life. The Exorcist (once and only once), The Shining, Halloween, Jeepers Creepers, Cujo, and Poltergeist. And that’s pretty much my limit.
Then there are psychological thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs and The Sixth Sense which can be just as frightening as horror movies but aren’t exactly horror films.
Psycho, made in 1960 by the genius filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, is a masterwork blending three elements; horror, mystery, and the thriller aspect. I watched it for only the second time in maybe five or six years yesterday and I forgot how truly terrifying this movie can be.
Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, is as creepy as they come. Yeah, he seems harmless but after watching the movie the first time and knowing that he is the psychotic creep the entire time I found my second viewing to be far more frightening than my first.
Being someone who is very much a scaredy-cat I was jumping, screeching, and at times barely able to watch the film as I covered my eyes with my hands. This movie is the epitome of great writing, great directing, and great acting. The film would go on to be nominated for four Oscars. The only actor be nominated for an Oscar was Vera Miles who played Lila Crane, Marion Crane’s sister, but I honestly believe Anthony Perkins should’ve been nominated as well.
He did SUCH a remarkably creepy job as Norman Bates that it almost seems preposterous that he wouldn’t get nominated.
The movie is rated #40 on the top #250 movies on IMDb and deservedly so. It’s a perfect film from start to finish.
I thank you for reading and I hope you have a splendid day.