Comments on: Psycho (1960)

By: Aiden R

Aiden R — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:17:26 +0000

If only you had posted this when I had to write that essay in college…

By: Jeremy Masten

Jeremy Masten — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:50:08 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the exposition part at the end, and here’s my two cents: the movie itself is schizophrenic. No protagonist sticks around for the whole movie. Instead, we have a series of characters who step into the story, take it over for a few scenes, then back off into supporting roles.

1. Marion leads off with the whole money-stealing thing.
2. Then Norman takes over and sinks her in a swamp.
3. Then Arbogast suddenly takes charge before giving way to Sam and Lila.
4. Sam and Lila take it just about all the way, but pass the baton to
5. the psychiatrist, who explains everything.

Cue the visual baton-passing. A cop steps into the room, “She’s cold. Can I bring her a blanket?” The sheriff looks at the psych, who says it’s OK. Then the camera follows the cop down the hall to the room where he gives

6. Mrs. Bates the blanket. She takes the blanket, and takes the movie home with that final haunting speech and look.

By my count, that’s 6 or 7 lead characters (or personalities) fighting for control of the movie. Maybe I’m reaching, but maybe that explains how the movie is so successful without a real protagonist. And maybe that’s why Hitchcock let that last exposition last so long.

By: Christian

Christian — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:16:07 +0000

Awesome blog. Psycho is one of the greatests
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By: cmrok93

cmrok93 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:23:03 +0000

This film shows that Hitchcock is one of the greatest director’s of all-time. End of story.

By: Bill Thompson

Bill Thompson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:34:08 +0000

Outside of the exposition city ending Psycho is a really great movie. Hard to say where I’d rank it among Hitch’s films though, there’s far too many that I view as great for me to casually break them all down.