Customer Reviews
Absolute Classic!!! 
2008-03-22
This is one of the great all time classic horror movies. I never get tired of watching it.
Psycho......."We all go a lil crazy sometimes!"..... 2008-03-18
Psycho was a film made by Film Legend Alfred Hitchcock in 1960. It was based on the book, Psycho, which was written by Robert Bloch. The book was loosely based on Wisconsin Serial Killer Ed Gein. The film tells the story about a secretary that embezzles money from her employer. She goes on the run after doing so yet, because of weather & fatigue, decides to stop by The Bates Motel. Yet, her stop there proves to be her undoing. Out of all of Alfred Hitchcock's movies, this is the movie he is most fondly remembered for. The movie stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh(mother of Scream Queen Legend, Jamie Lee Curtis), Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, & John Mcintire. The Shower scene in the movie has been studied and discussed over and over as to why it is so terrifying and why many has tried to copy it through the years. This collector's edition includes extras like newsreel footage surrounding the making and release of the movie; an archive of production stills; the special trailer in which Hitchcock himself leads viewers around the Bates place; credit designer Saul Bass's original "shower scene" story boards; posters and advertising materials for the movie's William Castle-like publicity campaign (No One Will Be Seated After the Feature Begins!); and, the piece de resistance, a 90-minute documentary on the making of the film!
The movie itself was so succesful that it spawned three sequels(one of which was directed by Perkins himself), a made-for TV movie called The Bates Motel, and a remake that stars Anne Heche-Vince Vaughn-William H. Macy-Viggo Mortensen(of Lord of the Rings fame)-& Julianne Moore. The movie was also the very first movie to start the 'Slasher' Genre of movies.
This movie is a classic that deserves to be in any film lovers' collection.
Greatest Film of All Time! 2008-03-18
I received this dvd for Christmas and I was very excited! Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" is my absolute favorite movie and this dvd was more than just suitable. The quality is fantastic, the picture is clear and the sound is crisp. Not only that but the special features are great, with a documentary by the surviving cast and crew, film posters and original trailers. Anthony Perkins will forever be known for his portrayal of Norman Bates, the world's biggest mama's boy and true psycho. This dvd is a must for any classic movie collection!
Great film based on a great book. 2008-03-01
"Psycho" is a brilliant film, and deserves its permanent status as a classic. But, as with "The Shining," I'm sick of the dismissive attitude towards the source material. Even true-crime writer Harold Schechter, an expert in pop culture and someone who should be capable of fully appreciating Robert Bloch's novel, demeans Bloch's actual accomplishment by referring to it as "a clever but minor pulp chiller." And, as with "The Shining" and "The Exorcist," the movie's greatness - at least in relation to other horror films - has been exaggerated.
I think this needs especial emphasis with "Psycho," because even Hitchcock, notorious for hogging the credit for the success of his films, claimed that his film "all came from Robert Bloch's book." In light of this, screenwriter Joseph Stefano's refusal to credit Bloch and taking public credit for things that Bloch invented is particularly execrable.
A good deal of the dismissal of the original materials by Bloch, King and Blatty derives from a snobbish, condescending attitude towards "popular fiction." When a great film is crafted from such a book, the common wisdom states - sometimes with varying degrees of validity - that the film concentrated the essence of the source material's interesting ideas, while improving on their execution, adding depth to the whole, and jettisoning the "commercial" fluff. This perspective, however, is clung to with knee-jerk insistence, and it is condescending not just towards popular fiction, but towards cinema itself: the flip side of this perspective that I've just described, and which goes hand-in-hand with it, is that a film, when derived from a "serious work of literature," will always remain a footnote to the original text, no matter how great. For example, David Lean's version of Oliver Twist fits the first theory to a tee; and yet, have you ever heard anybody say so? On the contrary, the film, though hailed as a masterpiece, is subjugated in importance to the supposedly greater intrinsic value of Dickens's original, even though the novel is criticized as one of his most immature books. This second perspective says something quite insulting about the intrinsic value of cinema as an art form as opposed to that of literature. Any one who loves the cinema must be sickened by this attitude.
When all is said and done, I'll admit that I think Hitchcock's film surpasses its source. But both book and film are classics - albeit, a minor classic and a major classic.
Psycho 2008-02-26
This is a wonderful classic. Everyone should have this in their collection. Everytime I view it, it keeps me engaged and it's like I'm seeing it for the first time. Thank you.....
The mother (father???) of modern horror. 2008-06-24
Who hasn't seen this?
Raise your hands and hang your heads in shame.
One of the most important films in history, you must see this.
Too bad the remake is just an unnecessary insult.
The original has withstood the test of time easily.
Brilliant acting, brilliant pacing, amazing directing, and an ending that still blows people away.
Do I recommend this movie?
This movie is REQUIRED VIEWING BY ALL!!!
A boy's best friend is his mother 
2008-05-13
A slick, taught psychological thriller. Seminal cinema. I had avoided watching this film for a long time after a friend of mine told me it was 'kind of obvious who the killer is'. Well yes and no. From the cautious, careful opening scenes, to the moment the mysterious motel/house location is established, it is clear that this is not the type of billion dollar bloodbath slasher thriller with ludicrous twists, turns, subplots, denouments. It is a closed world - dominated by the disturbed young man Norman Bates: quirky, uneasy, boyishly handsome - and his relationship with his elderly invalid mother who dominates his mind.
Original for its shape (the shower scene is only a third of the way through) and its intelligent and brilliant epilogue of psychological ideas after a thrilling seat clutching climax, Psycho is a must.
The truest definition of horror... 2008-05-08
I don't think you can call yourself a film enthusiast if you are not a fan of Hitchcock. Part of loving film is finding solace in the technique used to create film, and truly there is no other director who possesses the technique Hitchcock possessed. The famed director was truly a master of his craft, able to generate genuine emotion from his audience, always using every advantage at his disposal and creating authentic and moving pictures that are still unmatched even today. While he has delivered many masterpieces, in my humble opinion `Psycho' is his finest work.
When you watch `Psycho' there are many techniques Hitchcock utilized to the superlative degree to deliver to his audience perfection. First, and maybe foremost, we have the brilliant score. Music can be a key to creating the perfect mood and tone for a film. Think back to the ominous baritone that bubbles from the depths of `Jaws' and even recently, films like `Atonement' and `There Will Be Blood' have utilized the power of music to elevate scenes and cement themselves into our memories. `Psycho' has probably the most memorable of all film scores for I can still hear those screeching violins every time I step into the shower. Secondly, Hitchcock shot the film in classic black and white, even though color was an option. Now while his initial reasoning for the decision may have been to save money, the end result leads the audience down a much more fulfilling path than had he opted for a color film. Having seen Gus Van Sant's remake (which really isn't as horrible as critics labeled it) I can honestly say that color works against this film. The rich grays and blacks help stir the feelings of imminent danger, helping to solidify feelings of fear even when nothing frightening is taking place on the screen. The editing is also ferociously engrossing, especially when concerning the famous shower scene. Hitchcock knows how to keep the audience on edge throughout the entirety of the film; thus the publicity campaign `No One Will Be Seated After the Picture Begins'.
And then you have the plot, filled to the brim with mystery and surprise. Hitchcock takes advantage of these plot twists in order to create a film that is genuinely shocking and unexpected (the first go around) and manages to still deliver shivers upon multiple viewings. I have not read Robert Bloch's novel which served as inspiration for the film (I don't hear many good things about it) but Hitchcock's masterpiece shines brightly from every outlet.
The film revolves around Marion Crane, a young woman who has a lot of things going wrong for her; most notably her affair with a married man. Desiring to find a way to make their lives easier and enable her lover Sam to divorce his wife and marry her, Marion steals a substantial amount of money from her boss's client and flees town. In her haste she stumbles across an old run down motel and decides to stay the night. The manager Norman seems like a nice young man. He's thoughtful and considerate, offering her some dinner and keeping her company. He is a tad skittish and defensive, but nothing too alarming. Then Marion attempts to take a shower, and we all know what happens next.
I can't for the life of my conclude that anyone reading this review doesn't already know the brilliant twist in this film, for even those who have not seen this movie are certainly aware of it, but for the sake of that one person who genuinely has no clue I will remain silent with regards to the plot from that point onward.
Aiding Hitchcock are the phenomenal performances by the cast, especially Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. There is a pivotal scene when Norman Bates and Marion Crane are eating dinner together that truly reeks with talent. These two actors embody the souls of their characters and ooze forth with such commanding presence. I am shocked that Anthony Perkins was denied even an Oscar nomination for his brilliant performance, creating the perfect villain who is not only fear inspiring and genuinely chilling but also honestly sympathetic. Janet Leigh, who did receive a much deserved Oscar nomination, is also flawlessly enticing as Marion Crane. She commands your attention and draws you into her dilemma masterfully. The remaining cast is superb as well; John Gavin, Vera Miles, John McIntire and Simon Oakland especially delivering strong performances that support and elevate those of the two leads.
When all is said and done there really isn't any fault to be found with Hitchcock's masterpiece. The final frames of Norman Bates' silent madness are forever locked into my subconscious and still haunt my dreams on occasion. Sure, there are films that are scarier and more gruesome than this classic but rarely has a film of this genre been able to reach the levels of truly sustained dread that Hitchcock captured; a dread that never leaves, only lies dormant, waiting for the right moment to unleash itself its victims once again.
Wonderful movie...and experience 2008-04-19
I bought this movie about a month ago, and I love it. Hitchcock was brilliant, and this has to be my favorite movie that he's done. While others cringe at the "shower scene" and therefore deem it as traumatic or just horrifying, I can't help but to love the movie even more. It can freak a person out, but it doesn't once show the person actually being stabbed. The actors are also very wonderful. Anthony Perkins plays the owner of the motel, and I find him very talented in his roles...I won't tell you more about the movie though, as it may ruin it for you. So, if you are a Hitchcock fan...even if you're not, I suggest you get this movie, because it is one pyschological thriller you won't want to miss.
THIS IS PSYCHO & NO OTHER! 2008-04-12
This is the original and no other can come close to it! Psycho was based on the book but Alfred Hitchcock turned it into a real suspense thriller! A woman embezzles 40,000 from her job, runs away, and encounters a psycho path running an old motel. She ends up missing and those who try to locate her find out about the history of the the infamous Norman Bates, his mother, and their sinister looking house and motel. Psycho is definitely a movie to watch if u haven't seen it yet like I did as a child, and the sequels and prequels too. Thumbs up Sir Alfred Hitchock! The remake was a joke! Can't top Hitch! This DVD has the original trailers and the making of Psycho as well as other extras on it. Good job!
