31 Days of Horror Recommendations: Psycho (1960)

 

Year: 1960

Country: USA

Subgenre: Serial Killer/Slasher

Runtime: 109 minutes

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Yes, yes, I know this is one of the most famous horror films ever made! But, I figured with all the recent craze over serial killers caused by the Netflix release of Dahmer - Monster that I would take the time to point out that if you are looking for serial killer titles to screen, there is NO WAY anyone can do any better than Hitchcock's Psycho and Norman Bates! Anthony Perkins famously plays Bates (whose character is loosely based on real serial killer/necrophile Ed Gein...what the hell are they putting in the water in Wisconsin???) in such a way as be both creepy and pathetic. There are even moments when one is tempted to feel slightly sorry for him. Masterful work. Janet Leigh is nearly as famous as Perkins for her appearance, but she is only in the film for 20 minutes.  So...granted, it's a BIG 20 minutes with the culmination of the 45 seconds shower scene! But I think more credit really needs to be given to supporting actors John Gavin (Sam Loomis), Vera Miles (Lila Crane) and Martin Balsam (as private dick Arbogast). For me personally, Balsam's performance is my favorite of the film; he's no-nonsense and hard boiled--has that great line about Aspic...and yet, his self-assurance is no preparation for what he runs into at the Bates Motel. The film is also an early example of the final girl trope; not to mention put Janet Leigh immediately in the Scream Queen hall of fame. It is also the absolute finest example of a horror noir. So if you are binging on the serial killer stuff...make some time for Psycho this October. I find that it's actually an effective antidote to some of the true crime dramas and documentaries on the subject.