I Watch Films: Psycho (1960)

 

Psycho (1960)

Sam Loomis has debts; because of them he can’t marry his girlfriend Marion Crane, can only see her when his work takes him through her home of Phoenix Arizona. When her real estate boss hands her $40,000 in cash that a client brought for a deal, she makes an impulsive decision and takes it, driving across country to Fairvale California where Loomis lives. Stopping by the side of the road after driving all night a policeman questions her; she changes cars at a second hand dealership in Bakersfield. Going on she’s caught by a rainstorm, drives off the main road to the Bates Motel.

The motel is a set of low cabins below a big spooky gothic house. Norman Bates gives her a room, offers to get her some sandwiches. She hears him arguing with her mother up in the house. They talk for a while; Norman does taxidermy, his mother is ill, the Motel is quiet because they moved the highway. They mention private traps one can’t leave. Back in her room Marion decides to go back and return the money. However while she is in the shower someone comes in and stabs her to death.

Norman comes across the scene, blames his mother and is horrified. He tidies up the room, puts Marion’s belongings and body in her car. Not knowing the money is in the car, he drives it down the road to the swamp where he sinks it.

Following Marion’s disappearance several people come looking for her. Lila, Marion’s sister travels to Fairchild where she confronts Sam Loomis. He hasn’t seen her, thinks he’s not heard from her following their argument about not getting married. A private investigator, Arbogast, interrupts the two of them. He’s been hired to find the $40,000.

All three attempt to retrace Marion’s footsteps. All three will find their way to the Bate’s Motel. Their incorrect belief that this is all about the $40,000 will blind them to the true danger. Though to be fair the actual twist is not one you would expect. Psycho is a classic, and the shower scene has been re-created, pastiched and parodied numerous times. Scarcely less famous is the twist. Yet there’s more here, Marion’s impulsive theft has her feeling paranoia and regret for the whole first half of the film. The second half, the investigation, can’t live up to it, a much more conventional film.

Watch This: Classic thriller with several genuinely eerie scenes
Don’t Watch This: Luridly exploitative with several ridiculous coincidences