Psycho

Seriously the best horror film ever made and one of the best films ever made. After rewatching this film I realized even more stuff that make this film so perfect. This definitely did place even higher in my top 50 list after my rewatch. The pacing is unmatched even by modern standars. Story unfolds quick, but not too fast. We start off the first act with Marion with minimal cuts and powerful long conversations. This slow realism builds viewers empathy and comfort for Marion where her death feels like a violation of a normal life. Second act the scenes become shorter and sharpen a bit where pacing feels fast. Everytime the story feels like it's slowing a shock happens (Arbogasts death for example). Hitchcock uses this amazing method where it goes like this: quiet - sudden violence - quiet - dread. This keeps the audience disoriented and anxious. By third act the tension builds up scene by scene with no more long conversations. Basement scene hits with being one of the most iconic scenes ever. final monologue with Norman's mother is slow, quiet and unsettlingly calm. The climax fast tempo keeps the audience thrilled and interested. One of the strongest parts of this film is Norman Bates. He's flawlessly written and Anthony Hopkins actually portrays his character so well. His dual nature with both mom and son is portrayed so well and in the ending his nature being explained is so riveting to watch. Norman Bates could go in the debate as the best written character in film history and without a doubt in my opinion is the best villain in film history. Him pretending and manipulating himself his mother killed his victims is one of the best conflicts I've seen in film history. This film delves into mental illness, repression, and identety way ahead of it's time. This film groundbreaking storytelling is insane. Killing off Marion Crane in the first hour is a bold, but amazing move for this film. It doesn't take a toll for the worse, but rather the opposite. The films story just unfolds in a greater way than ever and still keeps the move as being just as amazing as before. The dialouge is also the strongests parts of this film. The dialouge is truly so powerful and I'd argue one of the best dialouge in cinema. The writing is just that good. Every line builds character and reveals heavy tension. Coversations feel human: stutters, pauses, inderect answers and sweating. The realism grounds horror making insanity feel as disturbing as possible. Norman doesn't speak like a villain, he speaks like a lonely man you might meet anywhere. This films insanely great directing feels so satisfying in a way. Hitchcock use of camera angles and lighting makes viewers conplicit. You're forced to watch though Norman's eyes sharing his guilt and curiosity. Psycho is one of it's own. It's seriously a masterpiece and insane for it's time. This did indeed place top 2 in my top 50 list. This and Donnie Darko is one of the closest I'll get to a perfect film. Click here for my top 50 list 10