Film Review: Psycho (15), (U.S.A. 1960) (Director: Alfred Hitchcock), Saturday 13.10.2012 18:00, The Filmhouse Screen One, Edinburgh

What can be said about Psycho, one of the most known films there is. Again it is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. It is the score that I find most impressive, which I had forgotten is unsettling and foreboding from the off. Without the final two scenes where Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is being discussed by the authorities who have apprehended him and a psychologist is offering insight from having 'spoken with Norman's mother', I don't think the film would have worked quite so well.

A line I had not picked up upon on previous viewing was 'a mother is always a boy's best friend'. This is spoken by Norman in response to a question from Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) about whether he ever gets lonely and occurs not long after Marion arrives at the Bates Motel. This suggests still viewing his self as a 'boy', and detachment, as gives a universal statement as opposed to talking about his own mother. The performance by Anthony Perkins is subtle and finely balanced and it is understandable (though regrettable) as to why this hung over the rest of his career.

Rating: 10/10.