Psycho

Starting on some classic horror, here! This movie is a staple of most people's lists of classics or even on the top hundred lists of films for some critics. I am here to say that I enjoyed this movie a ton, but did find some glaring flaws. Here at Double Down, we sometimes have to double down on bad takes, and this is quite possibly mine. While Psycho is a great horror movie, it is far from a perfect one and suffers from pacing/story issues that I think drag down the plot quite a bit. What makes up for it is the suspenseful later half, a gripping study of a murderer, and the almost gothic shots of the Bates Motel and its accompanying house. Let's get into Psycho!

PLOT: A slog until the second half.

I found out about the first half of this movie on my watch through it and quickly realized why people generally don't bring it up. It's sluggish, doesn't tie into the later half as much, and really doesn't do a ton to build characters besides Marion, who winds up dead anyways. While definitely acting as a huge fakeout as to the main character of this story, which I can admit does work very well, I think it slogs as a result. However, after that, the plot is pretty much perfectly paced and gripping. The mystery becomes the focus and the resulting drama is nigh perfect storytelling. I enjoyed it quite a bit more than the rest!

CHARACTERS: We all know what we're here for.

Most of the characters we see are not who we're here for. No one is watching Psycho for the characters finding out what happened to Marion, they're here to see the performance of Anthony Perkins in his career-defining performance as Norman Bates. In a performance that began the trope of slasher killers while also acting as a euphemism for potentially gender-curious people as well as the psychology of Freudian times makes for a fascinating character study trapped within several other conflicting narratives. However, it is a compelling narrative nonetheless.

SHOTS: By far, the best part.

This film is one of the best-shot movies I've watched in years. With the black and white acting as an enhancing tool to give the film a Gothic vibe while also creating shadows on top of everything that look just simply stellar, this film looks terrific even today! I recommend watching this film if not for learning how to properly shoot a film. Of course, we will talk about the shower scene in a bit.

SOUND: A few iconic tracks, definitely.

The iconic slasher track that we all know is here. That being said, most of the music is standard fare for the time. It builds suspense and does its job. I'm surprised at the amount of times the Bates riff is used, especially since it's iconic mostly from the shower scene. But, it's nothing above great.

WRITING: Sharp and poignant.

While the plot certainly isn't my favorite, I absolutely love the themes and ideas of the film. Women being trapped within bad jobs and being forced to take illegal action in order to gain a place in the world is sadly very realistic for the time and her being cut down before she can make anything of herself is another sad part of life. However, my favorite part is in the implication of Norman/Norma Bates. There's a subtle focus on how gender sometimes finds itself mixed up as per Norman's separate personality and how we can view his dysphoria changes as we move into a more liberal time. It's fascinating, certainly.

LITTLE THINGS: The shower scene.

The scene from the shower, of course, cannot be left out of any review. It has perfect music, perfect framing, and is an incredible showcase of acting and how to deliver a frightening scene without jumpscare or sudden fright. It's scary because of its realism and made many people afraid of closing their blinds while showering. Even the actress of Marion admitted that she only took baths for the rest of her life after the movie released. This had a fascinating impact on not only cinema, but also most people as a whole.

VERDICT: A decent film enhanced by its best scenes.

This film really does take a decent albeit messy plot and commit to delivering incredible framing and writing that enhances all other parts by a wide margin. This is why, when I talk bad about other films, I say they could be improved by every single part of the movie. Even a 5/10 movie can go up a few points by simply having decent acting and a great story. A classic, no doubt, but far from my favorite horror movie. That being said, this film really does leave its impact on anyone who watches it.

SCORE: 8/10, a welcome change to my recent catalogue.