First Time Watching PSYCHO (1960) Reaction & Commentary

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Storyline
Psycho is a 1960 American horror film produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay, written by Joseph Stefano, was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The film stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin and Martin Balsam. The plot centers on an encounter between on-the-run embezzler Marion Crane (Leigh) and shy motel proprietor Norman Bates (Perkins) and its aftermath, in which a private investigator (Balsam), Marion's lover Sam Loomis (Gavin), and her sister Lila (Miles) investigate her disappearance.
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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[@buzzardbeatniks]

When the sheriff says Norman's mother is dead and we're just about to get an inkling of whats going on he then says "well if the woman up there is Mrs Bates who's that woman buried out in Greenlawn cemetery?" just to shift our suspicions and throw us off the trail again. So clever.

[@mrtveye6682]

It is, isn't it? There are multiple times where a big part of the plot is hinted, but they immediately put some other ideas into the viewers head to distract. It is indeed so clever.

[@Rickkennett143]

@@mrtveye6682 When the sheriff says that he is practically looking into the camera addressing the audience.

[@theramplocal]

Imagine seeing this in theaters, just wow. Too good dude

[@bitfenix90]

@@theramplocal It is still sooo powerful in a jammed theater. This is available to many film festivals, and always draws crowd. "Knowing the ending" is NOTHING - experiencing it with a huge audience, all sucking the air out of the space - the shared suspense - even though it seems 'less' is so much more because of the confined space and the large crowd... it's a whole new level for the experience.

[@sp72929]

Antony Perkins performance as Norman is off the charts. Not just the sudden switches sweet and innocent and creepy and terrifying. The whole conversation with the detective, the slowly building nervousness, the tics, the stutter, the panicked eyes movement... that is one hell of a performance! So is the end with the "mothers" voiceover in the end, I mean... he is just sitting, not moving, he is literally acting just with face and eyes and it creeps the hell out of you!

[@kimmyfreak200]

nailed the paranoia and fight or flight body language... the scariest part imo is when Norman runs into the room, as mom, holding the knife as she screams in terror... the maniacal eyes are truly frightening.. I recommended a classic horror film that inspired the Halloween movies BLACK CHRISTMAS 1973, and inspired When a stranger calls and When a stranger calls back etc etc it was based on the MAN UPSTAIRS urban legend from an actual murder (janett christman 1950) and When a stranger calls back, highly underrated, was inspired by "the boy in the walls" crime case of Daniel Laplante which is the scariest true crime ever...anyway i don't wanna spoil it for Ryan but there is an iconic scene, 3 actually, that are truly terrifying and many of the shots are POV style like the film PEEPING TOM. i hope Ryan reacts to it! classic film... scared the hell out of me when i first saw it.. rob zombie said he slept as a group at his friends house after lol.

[@BlueShadow777]

For me, Perkins's performance is up there with the best of any actor ever on screen. The complex, yet skilfully subtle, nuances of his characterisation is a captivating delight to behold. Not surprising, really, as he's of the same method acting provenance as the likes of Steiger, Dean, Brando, Clift etc. Couple this with Hitchcock's superb directorial insight and a celluloid classic was created.

[@MsAppassionata]

It’s really shameful that he wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar for this role. Criminal, as a matter of fact.

[@jannathompson2262]

I wish one reactor would do On the Waterfront!!!!! Love Marlon Brando;)

[@BlueShadow777]

@@jannathompson2262 Check out “Late Nights with Sammy”… he did OTW. There’s also “R Knights”, but you’re better with Sammy.

[@billolsen4360]

😅🤣

[@sparky6086]

I don't think, that any actor other than Anthony Perkins, could have pulled off the role of Norman Bates nearly as effectively.

[@Neckromorph]

I love that people are still watching this movie not expecting the twist ending. Many people go into Psycho (along with other iconic movies) already knowing the big twist purely because of the cultural impact of the films. It seems like such a rarity to find someone who hasn't had the twist spoiled beforehand. So glad you took the time to watch this classic!

[@RyanCarrington]

Yeah, I feel your pain. I told a colleague to watch a movie the once, told him it's one of my favourites and how good it was etc. and then another colleague came in and and said "ah it's great, you'll enjoy the twist" WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?! He came in the next day loving the movie but said he saw it coming. I was like, well of course. You were told to look out for it haha Obviously, I'm still annoyed to this day. Anyway, I'm so glad this wasn't spoiled for me like my colleague spoiled that movie 😂

[@BlackavarWD]

Psycho, Friday the 13th, etc... it's so funny to see people who think they know all about it from pop culture! Then they are sooo confused, it's great fun to watch 😂

[@kurtbarlow9402]

​@@RyanCarrington Psycho II is a very good sequel. Psycho III is standard slasher fare Psycho IV is (different than canon) backstory. In the late 80s there was also a made for TV movie called Bates Motel. It was like a Scooby Doo episode, and they didn't have the house interior sets

[@HuntingViolets]

@@kurtbarlow9402 Bates Motel was a series, wasn't it?

[@kurtbarlow9402]

@@HuntingViolets It was both. The movie was in the late 1980s (86?) and started Bud Cort , the cable series was much more recent wit Freddie Highmore (not familiar with the run dates, wasn't a fan of the sets

[@LordVolkov]

"I need to watch this again..." On rewatch, Norman arguing with his mom is the funniest thing, especially when she's yelling at him to put her down because he has to carry her body around 😅

[@annieromanowski7730]

Thanks for your terrific reaction. I'm so glad you didn't figure things out right away. Makes the ending so much more satisfying. It's interesting that the last part with the psychiatrist explaining what happened to Norman and his mother was something that Alfred Hitchcock didn't want to put in. He wanted to allow people to figure it out. But the concept of "split personality" was almost heard of at the time this movie was made, so he allowed it to be put in. I'm glad Mr. Hitchcock did because it did help to explain things when I first watched it at about 10 years old in 1968. Scared me to death and I still find it so good today. It sure deserves the label of "classic".

[@RyanCarrington]

Now you mention it, I was a little surprised to get a little explainer! Glad you enjoyed my reaction 😊

[@AtomicVampire1]

This movie is just one of those perfect/near perfect films. The script, the acting, the murder of the star, the music, the lighting of course the directing. And probably one of the most recognisable houses ever. Great reaction!

[@YvetteKeyser]

Hey Trent! Fancy meeting you here.

[@AtomicVampire1]

@@YvetteKeyser 👋 how have you been

[@theramplocal]

One of hitch's finest masterpieces. Love rear window, vertigo and dial m for murder. Absolute Classics!

[@jimmybee4768]

Great reaction. I saw this movie shortly (a year) after it came out. My father took me, two younger sisters(they fell asleep) and mom to the drive in. I couldn't believe the main character was killed so early. After she was stabbed in the shower so many times, I asked my dad , "is she dead?" He said "I hope so". He was a man of few words and it was his way of saying - don't be silly, of course she is dead after all that. Very little was known about mental illness at that time, so the exposition by the psychiatrist was necessary.

[@Keedeeg]

I think I would have liked your dad. 😊

[@RyanCarrington]

Definitely enjoyed my first exposure to Hitchcock! What other movies of his do you think I should check out next? Don't forget to like and share if you enjoyed this 🤙

[@lindarichards3195]

The Birds

[@johnnehrich9601]

There are certain style elements that are common to Hitchcock's movies, but at the same time, the story from one to the next varies all over the place, so don't think they are all slasher films. My two favorites are: The Lady Vanishes (ignore the modern non-Hitchcock versions. Dial M for Murder. Also: North by Northwest Vertigo Strangers on a Train and a whole lot more I'm blanking out on now. By the way, the two best non-Hitchcock "Hitchcock" films are: Witness for the Prosecution (1957 version only) Charade.

[@paolom.6011]

Rear Window 100%.

[@mattschliemann9683]

North By Northwest is one of my favorite movies. Love the music in it as well. Speaking of, the same composure also did the music for Cape Fear (which isn't Hitchcock but still good). There's the original one that's black and white and a remake which is also pretty good. I'd say check them both out at some point when you can. Rear Window, Vertigo, Birds are also amazing Hitchcock films. If you manage to get through these four additional movies of his, you'll be ready to watch Mel Brooks High Anxiety which parodies Hitchcock films. Also I thought Lady Vanishes was pretty good. I don't think I've seen any of the rest of his movies unfortunately.

[@eighthdoctor]

Rope Dial M For Murder Rear Window

[@lindarichards3195]

My mom and her friend took me with them to see this when it first came out. I was 9. It warped my psyche forever. I still have to check behind the shower curtain before I can pee. 😨

[@RyanCarrington]

Oh my god 😅

[@lindarichards3195]

Fun fact: Jamie Lee Curtis dressed like her mom as Marion Crane for Halloween this year. ❤

[@RyanCarrington]

I forgot that was her mom. I had heard it somewhere!

[@jtoland2333]

​@@RyanCarringtonAnd her dad was Tony Curtis aka Norman Bates

[@okeefe757]

​@@jtoland2333 Are you trolling Ryan? Anthony Perkins is Norman Bates.

[@toodlescae]

​@@jtoland2333Only role like this I know Tony Curtis starred in was The Boston Strangler.

[@NoKoolAidForMe]

​​@@jtoland2333 Tony Curtis is not in this movie!

[@gallendugall8913]

The twist is a mind blowing one that always leaves audiences stunned. My favorite Hitchcock film is the cold war thriller North by Northwest.

[@RyanCarrington]

I wasn't really expecting a twist from this, so it hit so hard 😅

[@mrtveye6682]

And imagine how it must have felt back in the days when it came out? Today, we as viewers are way more used to that kind of plot twists. The more amazing that it still works so well today. It's a classic for a good reason.

[@Grayfox82]

Instant classic! John Carpenter's Halloween pays homage to this movie so well. Janet Leigh (Marion Crane) is Jamie Lee Curtis' mom. And, Jamie Lee's film debut was 'Halloween' (1978). Plus, the character 'Sam Loomis' is also the name used for Michael Myers' doctor in Halloween. So many references, its just awesome.

[@BigGator5]

"She needs ME. It's not as if she were a maniac, a raving thing. She just goes - a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?" "Yes. Sometimes just one time can be enough." Fun Fact: This was the highest-grossing movie of Sir Alfred Hitchcock's career. Music Enthusiast Fact: The score is played entirely by stringed instruments. Director Sir Alfred Hitchcock was so pleased with the score written by Bernard Herrmann that he doubled the composer's salary. Up Close And Personal Fact: In order to implicate viewers as fellow voyeurs, Sir Alfred Hitchcock used a 50 mm lens on his 35 mm camera. This gives the closest approximation to the human vision. In the scenes where Norman (Anthony Perkins) is spying on Marion (Janet Leigh), this effect is felt. Subtle Visual Cues Fact: In the opening scene, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is wearing a white bra and has a white purse because Sir Alfred Hitchcock wanted to show her as being angelic. After she has taken the money, the following scene has her in a black bra and black purse because now she has done something wrong and evil.

[@chrisw1555]

This was the first movie to ever show a toilet flushing. Hey, there's a first for everything. 🤷‍♂️

[@RyanCarrington]

Aha that's a good fun fact. Might be helpful for a pub quiz one day!

[@NPC_-mf4dw]

"I wasn't sure if he was actually penetrating her!" Oof...

[@RyanCarrington]

😬😬😬😬

[@user-bl5yi4uw6j]

I remember showing this film to my young nephew years ago. He was unaware of the "twist." He dismissed it at first because it was in b&w, but quickly became mesmerized by it. When it was over, he was like "What a great movie!" Of course I had to laugh at this. Many, if not all, of Hitchcock's films were experiments in filmmaking in one way or another. In "Psycho," the killing of Marion, the protagonist, disorients the viewer by eliminating someone the film spent some time investing itself in, disrupting the classical model of narration. The film sustains its momentum by transitioning the viewers' interest to Norman before settling on Lila and Sam. The thematic elements present in Psycho are classic Hitchcock cinema: psychotic behavior, voyeurism and mother figures/motherhood. These themes are also explored in Hitchcock's Rear Window, Notorious, Vertigo and Shadow of a Doubt. Indeed, "Shadow of a Doubt" may be regarded as an early "Psycho" precursor. In "Psycho" these themes are explored in greater depth. Hitchcock's studio, Paramount, refused to fund "Psycho" because it had no faith in the source material. So, the film was an experiment in its production. "Psycho" is based on a 1959 novel by Robert Bloch of the same name. Today, both the novel and the film are considered masterpieces of the horror genre. Paramount also would not agree to distribute the film without major concessions from Hitchcock. These included Hitchcock personally financing the project himself while foregoing his usual director’s fee. For his part, Hitchcock retained 60% ownership of the film. Hitchcock mortgaged his own house to finance the film and shot it using his tv crew. Hitchcock had a popular weekly tv anthology series at the time. Clearly, he had a lot of confidence in his tv crew. This low-budget film quickly made millions and made Hitchcock a lot of money. The music for "Psycho" was by Bernard Herrmann, regarded as one of the greatest composers for film. Because the film was low-budget, Herrmann scored it for strings only as opposed to full orchestra. So, the effect in tone-color is also rather b&w. I think if you look at the score, say, of the shower scene, the notes resemble a slash! Circa 1960, just about every car had bench seats. The gear shift was on the steering wheel column so that wouldn't have hindered you. Most cars were manual transmission, too, and without power steering or aircon. Also, by this time, seats were primarily vinyl and fairly slippery. So, it was especially easy to slide across them. The ignition, lights, and wiper knobs were on the dash. It was no problem to just slide across and exit the car on the other side if you wanted to. It could also be safer, if you were parking on the street. You could slide across and get out curbside instead of in the street. Or even because it was quicker to get where you wanted to go rather than walk around the car. Maybe the ground was muddy, too. Lots of reasons to do this. Ah, the younger generation. They don't know so much. They should go to old car shows and check out these beautiful old cars. By the way, if there's ever an EMP, I believe these old cars would still work, the new ones for sure wouldn't. Oh, by the way, that $40,000 would today be over $400,000. So not chump-change.

[@DR-mq1vn]

You should watch 12 Angry Men (1957). Everyone who sees it is blown away at how good it is!

[@RyanCarrington]

It's on my list. One of my favourite shows is Peep Show and it gets a brief mention on that when one of the characters is doing jury duty and arguing with other jurors 😅

[@cuestaverde]

Welcome to the realm of Hitchcock. Like others in the comments before myself, I highly recommend watching 'Rear Window'. It was my introduction to Hitchcock's films and one of his best. 'Rope' is also fantastic for those who love long shots and set design.

[@DanJackson1977]

Psycho 2 is actually rather excellent. Picks up 20 years later. They got a director and writer that really understood the Hitchcock style, and Perkins gets to show even more acting range.

[@DanJackson1977]

Psycho 3 was directed by Perkins himself.. it's very David Lynch inspired... as Perkins was obsessed with Lynch's Blue Velvet

[@rnw2739]

Psycho II is entirely, completely and most definitely very excellent!!

[@maximillianosaben]

I'm so glad you didn't know the twist!

[@RyanCarrington]

Me too! It's been a while since I've been got by a good twist. I really wasn't expecting one from this movie.

[@helvete_ingres4717]

Norman Bates IS somehow endearing throughout. that's the genius of Anthony Perkins' performance. The moment of real sorcery in this movie is the suspense felt when, just after seeing the heroine wrapped up in a shower curtain the likes of which had NEVER been seen in movies, Norman tries to cover up the evidence of her stay and submerge the car but it keeps floating up. Without even realising it, our empathy has shifted and we are now scared FOR Norman and subconsciously rooting for him to cover the murder up. None of this cinematic sorcery would work if he weren't in some way sympathetic. His character is explored in a sympathetic way in the sequels which aren't often talked about b/c they're not made by hitchcock but they're actually good movies in their own right (perkins himself directed the third one)

[@vwlssnvwls3262]

The shower scene really shocked people at the time, because Janet Leigh was a highly popular leading lady, so no one expected her to die.

[@skydogfan4671]

Hitchcock was a genius. He teased and played with the viewer throughout the movie with foreshadowing. He’d lead our mind just so far down the path of being able to tie all the pieces together then quickly divert you away from this path. For example, the sheriff scene. The sheriff tells us that Norman’s mother has been dead. So for some viewers this confirms what they had been thinking - the killer is in fact Norman. In the next breath the sheriff says well if that was Norman’s mother that the private investigator saw then who is that person in her coffin. Also my favorite shot in the movie is the close up of Norman’s throat as he talks to the private investigator The muscles in his face tightening and his quivering Adams apple all while chewing on candy really conveys the stress and pressure he was under from the questioning from the PI.

[@donbrown1284]

Hitchcock's dark sense of humor comes through when you watch this film a second time. Lines like "My mother isn't quite herself today" and "I just want to find her before she gets in this too deeply" is pure black comedy. Also notice Norman's shifting hips as he climbs the stairs to "mother" -- a hint that he his transitioning to her. Then in the most spectacular shot of the film, the camera rises up past the door where he's talking, to the high overhead shot of the second murder without a cut. It disguises the fact that you don't see "mother's" face as he carries her down the stairs. Brilliant movie.

[@robertjewell9727]

My friend Dorothy's dad composed the music for this film. He was a true genius.

[@atggarden5251]

Antothny Perkins' performance as Norman Bates is amanzing!!!

[@annaolson4828]

I'm sure someone else has already mentioned Norman's actor is the wonderful Anthony Perkins. He was mostly known as a romantic lead at the time the movie was released, which added to audiences' surprise when he ended up being the killer. Of course, after Psycho, he was typecast for the rest of his career as Norman Bates-alikes. Unfortunately, he was another talent we lost too young due to the AIDS epidemic. He passed in 1992 at the age of 60.

[@RyanCarrington]

Oh shoot I didn't realise he went out like that 😩 After watching his early scene with Janet Leigh, I can definitely see how he would've been known as the romantic. He definitely had something about him.

[@annaolson4828]

@@RyanCarrington Definitely agree with your last sentence!

[@mwflanagan1]

Great reaction, Ryan. I love watching first reactions to surprising twists when the viewer truly hasn’t seen the film before. You could have a reaction channel of nothing but Hitchcock films, as he made hundreds, including detective and mystery films.

[@RyanCarrington]

I'm both annoyed and super happy that I didn't see the twist coming haah It's been a while since a movie has got me like this.

[@joycegibbs5267]

I wish I could go back to not having seen Psycho, it shook me up so much, blew my mind !!! This is a groundbreaking film. That ending chilling to the bone.

[@mrtveye6682]

Everyone knows the score of the famous shower scene. But damn the whole score is incredibly good - as most of Bernard Herrmanns work is.

[@dipsydoodle7988]

Mr. Anthony Perkins. What a talented actor. His portrayal of Norman is everything. This movie has a lot of ties to Halloween. Not just Sam Loomis, but the actress who played Marion; Janet Leigh is Jamie Leigh Curtis' mom. The OG scream queen..

[@papalaz4444244]

"This guy is the definition of a mummy's boy." YUP LMAO

[@RyanCarrington]

😂

[@papalaz4444244]

It's great watching it again. Early on he says something like, "My mother isn't herself, today."

[@RyanCarrington]

Yeah, when I was editing this back, I caught so many hints that went over my head in the first watch. It's been a while since a twist has got me like this haha

[@jeffbassin630]

Yours is a terrific review of this classic Hitchcock movie. Great job!

[@RyanCarrington]

Thanks so much!

[@dubbleplusgood]

it's always fun to see someone watch a movie where the big twist wasn't already ruined for them.

[@reverts3031]

If you ever get a chance, watch the movie "Hitchcock" starring Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins. It's a drama about how the movie Psycho was made and what the Hitchcocks had to go through to get it completed. Crazy stuff in an enjoyable film.

[@zedwpd]

She can tap on the wall because we have stick homes in the US built with 2x4's you call struts. These aren't concrete walls of a UK council house.

[@donnyboy6848]

Great reaction as always. Can't wait for your next one amigo

[@RyanCarrington]

Appreciate that, dude!

[@TTM9691]

13:03 - I've seen this movie 10,000 times, I never noticed his reflection creating a "two Normans" effect. Hitchcock is telling us who it is right off! 😄 Also never ever caught the line "I wonder where Norman Bates does his hermiting" lol! Brilliant! All these years, how could I miss that line? Bro......an honor (I mean honour!) to watch you, a photographer, get into Hitchcock! One thing about Hitchcock: he made great movies, good movies and some duds.....but he always knows what to do with the camera! That will never be an issue in an Hitchcock movie! The ones I'm dying for you to check out are "Rear Window", "Strangers On A Train", "Shadow Of A Doubt" and "Rope", but he has lots and lots of great/good ones. That was a super fun reaction! And now I have to catch up on your "Thing" reaction! Woo-hoo! A Ryan/classic horror double feature! Great to see you, man!!!

[@normandavidtidiman9918]

What about Norman to Marian (referring to mother),"She just goes mad sometimes". Understatement 😮

[@charrid56maclean]

Great reaction! Psycho 2 is a great film as well. Sequels were not as common then as they are now. Today even mildly successful films have a sequel. Psycho 3 is worthy but Psycho 4, that's a bit dicey😂

[@RyanCarrington]

Thank you! I didn't realise there were more. I thought it was a standalone movie 😅

[@mattschliemann9683]

I didn't mind Psycho 4, so much. But I believe it was made for the Showtime channel. I don't think it had a theatrical release but I could easily be wrong. The other 2 sequels are pretty good though.

[@jtt6650]

⁠@@RyanCarrington Hitchcock had nothing to do with the sequels and IMO they’re not worth watching. FRENZY (1972) is one of his last movies; it’s about a serial killer and is shot in London. Hardly anybody reacts to it on KZbin, but it would probably be right up your alley. It’s gruesome, funny, and of course, full of suspense.

[@mattschliemann9683]

2 is worth it

[@nickperkins8477]

Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates) is phenomenal in the movie. Very modern performance. Natural.

[@zedwpd]

The girl taking the tranquilizers is Hitchcock's real life daughter. $40k back then is worth $403,800 today. 18 year old daughter was getting quite the house. And Marion stole much more than people think. Marion wanted to switch cars because back then the tags were tied to the vehicle and not the owner. Once the cop showed up there was no reason to go on with the transaction. Sandwiches and milk wasn't really for company. He said he was fixing himself dinner and she could have some. Everyone younger is weirded out by the "you eat like a bird". It means you eat little or daintily. It was quite a common saying and said as a compliment. Opposite of you eat like a pig. The first cinematic toilet flush in history was in this movie. They used the word "friend" in the 50-60s like we use the word "Bro". The studio made Hitchcock add the psychiatrist monologue because they didnt think they would understand why Norman killed. He didnt want to and said audiences are smarter than that. Most people dont get it until the monologue, so I think the studio was right on this one. Anthony Perkins was selected for this part because all of his previous movies he play the sweet boy next door and Hitchcock would use the audiences prior knowledge to his advantage. Plus Hitchcock somehow gets us to root for Norman. When the car stops in the swampy, everyone thinks, "oh no" but then when it continues to sink, the audience gives a sigh, not realizing that is sympathy for the bad guy. Anthony Perkins' wife died on the plane that struck the Twin Towers on 9/11. They have two boys, Elvis and Oz. Arbogast is actually a real name with Germanic origins. The name means "bright guest" or "glorious guest," and it's derived from the Old High German words "ar" and "gast." Hitchcock liked the bird theme. From the movie, The Birds, to Norman's hobby, to Marion's last name. Hershey's syrup was used for Marion's blood. They tried other things, but it stood out the most on black and white. Leigh said the Hitchcock was controlling and ruined her career and that she had to endure weeks of being attacked by live birds. The movie was shot in 16 weeks. Leigh was only there for 5 of those weeks. Live birds were only on set for 5 days and they built in enclosure around the set to keep the birds in. If you went into the enclosure you knew you were filming with live birds. This nonsense about Hitchcock releasing birds on Leigh unexpectedly is just that, nonsense. Leigh was paid $500 per week for her 5 weeks of work. All totalled comes out to $25,400 today. She was an unknown before this and after this got plenty of work and also got to attach her name to a masterpiece we are talking about 50 years later.

[@RicktheCrofter]

Janet Leigh was not in the movie: “The Birds.” Janet Leigh was already well known when she appeared in Psycho. Perhaps the best known actor in the movie. Which was why it was such a shock when she/her character was killed so early in the story.

[@RicktheCrofter]

There are two major twists in this movie. The movie is old enough and so well known that it is almost impossible to not have heard about the twists, even if one doesn’t know the details. Especially the first twist. Which is too bad. The movie is so much better if one goes into it blind. Another problem is that the twists have been used so often in subsequent movies that they don’t seem as original as they were at the time.

[@jimmybee4768]

Great response, love the details! 👍👍👍

[@goodowner5000]

Tippi Hedren was the 'Hitchcock blonde' in "The Birds"('63), and like in "Psycho", two decades later her daughter, Melanie Griffith, would star in Brian DePalma's "Body Double"('84)- a Hitchcock homage of "Rear Window", "Vertigo", "Psycho",etc.

[@Keedeeg]

The Birds, Rebecca, Rear Window, Strangers On A Train, Rope and Marnie. Seriously, you just can't go wrong with Hitchcock. Also, To Catch A Thief just popped in my head...and Saboteur. I feel very blessed to have grown up watching his work. I was in high school when he passed in '80. I was quite gutted when I heard the news. I hope you decide to share your viewing with us.

[@PedroCastillo_1980]

The iconic line in the film "A Boy's Best Friend is his Mother"

[@bretthrockmorton7727]

The brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock to set horror in an all-American setting like a motel. Motels were, in those days, considered a safe, economical alternative to hotels and were used by thousands and thousands of Americans on road trips and vacations (and the irony of the policeman chastising Marion for sleeping in her car on the side of the road when there are motels around where she'd be safer). Also, the shot in the shower of the camera spiraling out while focused on Marion's iris. The didn't have autofocus in those days, so the shot had to done while spiraling the camera out and constantly refocusing the lens to that it didn't go out of focus. Hitchcock knew what he wanted and found ways, with his crew, to do it. This movie was filmed using his television show crew on a budget of $800,000. There were also numerous things in the movie to unnerve the 1960s audience. The music score was a bit jarring, done solely by stringed instruments. The credits were unusual with being split and going off in different directions and coming back in again. The opening shot in the hotel room of two people who have just (obviously) had sex, or at least an intensely passionate make out session, then finding out they're not married. The lead, and best known, actress being killed off a third of the way through the movie. The $40,000 dollars being not the key to the movie but a misleading red herring, changing it from being more of a 'caper' movie and becoming a horror movie. Showing the toilet in the motel room and hearing it flush was put in deliberately to further unnerve the audience, because up until then toilets were never seen in movies at all. After Marion's death, the audience sympathy switched from her to Norman, a poor, bedeviled boy who was only trying to do the best he could, under his mother's eyes and her wrath. The final reveal of who the murderer really was would have left the audience confused, so they added in the whole ending monologue where the Simon Oakland character explains about how Mother has now taken over completely.

[@shainewhite2781]

Love this movie! There was a remake released in 1998, with Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortenson, William H. Macy and Philip Baker Hall. It was not well received by critics or fans of the original and its considered to be the worst horror film ever made. The shower scene as well as the twist ending were on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

[@RyanCarrington]

Eeeesh!

[@NPC_-mf4dw]

Fun fact: You can see Anne Heche's butthole briefly in the shower scene. Kinda feels a bit inappropriate to point that out considering what happened to her just rather recently, but movie trivia is movie trivia...

[@aquatadevore9335]

I love that one ❤

[@tomclark5924]

Now you know why Hitchcock was considered the Master of Suspense. He is one of the few directors who lives up to the term "legend." This, The Birds, North By Northwest, Rear Window, Shadow of A Doubt and Rebecca are absolute masterpieces. I don't think you'd be disappointed going through his catalog.

[@Jontor11]

Hitchcock movies are so interesting and fun to watch in a filmmaking point of view. His playing with camera angles and different shots is amazing. And that at a time when he had very few technical things to play with. In earlier films he played with zoom shots before the zoom was even invented.

[@dandanod]

Great reaction buddy. Sam Loomis is the doctor in Halloween, John Carpenter was a Hitchcock fan. Janet Leigh is also Jamie Lee Curtis mother, another connection with Halloween. You missied Hitchcocks caneo at the beginning, standimg outside the office at beginning. He always had a cameo people looked for in his movies. Def recommend Psycho 2 from the 80s, it actually a decent sequel with Anthony Perkins 😊

[@musqwatrax708]

Talking over sandwiches. Norman tells Marion that his mother is “as harmless as one of those stuffed birds.” The master of suspense indeed.

[@1805movie]

*Fun Facts about **_Psycho_** :* -This was the first movie to show a toilet flushing on camera. Showing someone's bathroom was considered a big "No No" in the late 50's. -Back then every movie had to follow the "Hays Code" which prevented filmmakers from putting sex, blood, nudity, swearing, etc into their films. _Psycho_ helped push the boundaries of censorship, which gave us not only slasher films, but modern cinema in general. -Every cut in editing (in the shower scene) represented a stab. This was done to appease the said Hays Code. -They used chocolate syrup for blood. -Marion Crane was played by Janet Leigh (who was Jamie Lee Curtis' mother). -This movie was based on a book by Robert Bloch. In the book, Norman Bates is a balding, middle age, overweight drunk. And "Mary" gets decapitated in the shower. -Norman Bates was inspired by the murders of serial killer Ed Gein (aka The Plainfield Butcher), who also inspired Leatherface from _The Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ , and Buffalo Bill from _The Silence of the Lambs_ .

[@johnnehrich9601]

Many people will point out that this was the first of the "slasher"-type films. There is a reason there weren't ones before this. There was an incredibly strict censorship on movies from the 1930's to 1968, which curtailed things like sex and violence to unbelievable degrees. Up until this movie, I can't think of any that to showed copious amounts of blood (and by today's standards, the scenes here are mild). Often a movie would have lots of people getting shot, but no blood at all, just neat round holes. So when Hitchcock made this, there was no standard way to depict flowing blood, and his crew had to invent one. They used Hershey's chocolate syrup, which under black-n-white looked convincing. Hitchcock was always pushing the censorship rules. Here he showed an unmarried couple in bed together, obviously after sex. (Mostly movies had to show even a married couple sleeping in separate twin beds.) Also the first time a film showed a toilet being flushed. To get these details past the censors, Hitchcock fought hard. Sometimes the head office would turn down a scene and Hitchcock would agree, then come back a few days later with the exact same footage and they would pass it. But for this movie, the hardest fight was over the use of the word "transvestite." The censors thought it meant some deviant sex act. Hitchcock had to show them the dictionary entry which showed it literally mean "cross-dresser" (which was quite acceptable in Hollywood comedies, like "Some Like it Hot").

[@helvete_ingres4717]

'slasher' denotes mostly pretty schlocky low-quality generic movies (mostly), Psycho obviously stands a class above

[@theramplocal]

This movie is classic. Crazy how many people haven't seen it! Psyched to see your reaction man!

[@theramplocal]

Also of you haven't already seen these I HIGHLY recommend Rear Window and Vertigo. Absolute masterpieces and some of Hitchcock's best 🤘🤘🤘

[@RyanCarrington]

Hope you enjoyed it! This was a great first-time watch!

[@Bill_Jones.]

When John Lennon and Paul McCartney watched Psycho, they loved Bernard Herrmann’s musical score for the movie. They decided to incorporate the same style of staccato-like strings into their song “Eleanor Rigby.”

[@Divamarja_CA]

Omg, it just dawned on me after watching this classic for 25+ years, Norman does a good job of packing up the room but the torn up slip of paper with her budgeting is still in the toilet!

[@RyanCarrington]

I still can't believe she wrote that down 😅

[@shawnmiller4781]

@@RyanCarrington Back then their still taught long division in school

[@BlackavarWD]

​@@shawnmiller4781 **They're* taught grammar, too.

[@shawnmiller4781]

@@BlackavarWD Their, there, they’re it will be ok. Personally I’ve got better things to do with my time than to argue about grammar with this iPhone

[@BlackavarWD]

@shawnmiller4781 Better things to do... like posting comments about math in 1960? Or watching reaction videos? OK. 🤪

[@Purple_Buffalo]

Your reaction was awesome man. It was so much fun seeing how well this film evaded your expectations. I thought you would get it when the couple mentioned she was dead but the misdirection came so quickly.

[@RyanCarrington]

Editing this back, I don't know how I didn't catch it, but I'm so glad I didn't 😅

[@JD_ATX]

Even while filming was underway, Hitchcock wasn't sure if the studio would release the film. As a back-up plan, he was going to edit the film into 2 separate 42 minute segments (to account for commercial breaks) and air it as a special 2-part episode of his weekly anthology TV series, ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

I'm not a taxidermist but I had a 3 way with a dermatologist and a tax attorney and called it taxidermy

[@conureron3792]

The actor who plays Arbogast, the Private Investigator plays Juror #1 (the foreman of the jury) in the famous “12 Angry Men” movie. A must see iconic movie.

[@conureron3792]

When you re-watch this notice how many times Hitchcock uses mirrors or reflections during the movie, sorta foreshadowing dual personalities?

[@Mike-rk8px]

The first time I saw “Psycho” I was 12 and it scared me so bad that I was afraid of showers and walking up staircases alone in an empty house. This was in 1997 and I grew up in rural southern Sweden on big farm and horse ranch, the nearest house was about 4 kilometers away. I was home alone and it was late at night and I saw that “Psycho” was going to be on tv. I didn’t know anything about it, aside from the fact that it was an important move, so I decided to watch it. The house my family lived in was built in 1834, so there were often creaks and noises, and it was a very windy winter night. Being alone in that huge house didn’t bother me...until I saw “Psycho”. Watching it alone was a big mistake. When “Mother” came out of the bedroom really fast and stabbed Arbogast, I actually jumped and screamed. The worst part was my bedroom was on the second floor, and I had to walk up that long creaky staircase, and there were several doors at the top where I was expecting a murderous maniac to jump out and stab me to death. My family also thought it was weird how I had to have all the doors and windows in the house locked before I took a shower or bath. I refused to watch “Psycho” again until I was in my 20’s, and it still freaked me out.

[@pink99644]

A little known fact: Janet Leigh, who played as Marion Crane (the woman who got killed in the shower), is the mother of Jamie Lee Curtis, the actress who played as Laurie Strode in Halloween. I find it very funny, on how the two women played in two films that have a character named Sam Loomis 😂 Side-fact: Jamie was just 2 years old when this movie came out 😌

[@saucermcfly]

So glad you noted the shot of Norman with his head twisted down to see the register as he's chewing. Most don't mention it at all. I think it was supposed to remind you of a bird eating. ... Psycho is a great Hitchcock film but not necessarily a great representation of a typical Hitchcock film. As you pointed out, he was the Master of *Suspense*. His films had murder, but Psycho is much more direct and graphic about it than his other films. I recommend Rear Window, Strangers on a Train, Vertigo, North By Northwest, and Notorious. If I don't stop there, I'll end up recommending a dozen films! Thank you for reacting to/reviewing this one!

[@ronaldwilson6295]

Alfred Hitchcock's largest payday came from the film Psycho. He deferred his salary in exchange for 60% of the movie's profits. This resulted in an estimated $15 million payday, which adjusted for inflation is around $120 million today.

[@voiceover2191]

Two masterpiece scenes: as he clearning up the crime scene, are thoughts turn back to the money, what will happen to it, will he take it etc., because the theft seemed to be the major plot, but then he just casually picks it up and throws the newspaper in the trunk. It had no significance whatsoever to the rest of the movie. The second stroke of genius was the scene where he pushes he car into the swamp and it seems to be stuck and no longer sinking. The audience is lead to feel his apprehension and then we all sigh with relief as it finally submerges completely and we smile with him, all the while forgetting we were rooting for a psycho killer trying to hide a murder. Brilliant manipulation I always link it to that brilliant scene in Reservoir Dogs where the policeman gets tortured by one of the criminals with a razor blade slicing off his ear, all the time to a catchy tune he dances to and the audience taps along to Stealers Wheel's "Stuck in the Middle with You", momentarily forgetting the horror we are witnessing. It's such a contrast.

[@nickperkins8477]

“Twelve cabins. Twelve vacancies.” Big warning sign.

[@papalaz4444244]

From a filmmaking point of view, I think you will be blown away by "Rear Window" and how much he spent on getting the massive set exactly right and then how he shoots it all. It's also a great suspense film :)

[@joebloggs396]

It's obvious who the killer is. Aren't a zillion reactions to it enough?

[@papalaz4444244]

@@joebloggs396 But you are a fkng imbecile troll

[@RyanCarrington]

Yeah, it's getting recommended a lot!

[@falcongal63]

Psycho is one of my favorite movies of all time and now watching new people react to it for the first time is so fun! I love that you picked up some of the masterful cinematic choices that Hitchcock made. I took a film course that broke down much of the movie shot by shot, frame by frame. It’s a true classic that stands up today. The score by Bernard Herrmann is key to the suspense and feel of the film.

[@RyanCarrington]

Oh wow. Glad you enjoyed watching along!

[@bitfenix90]

We've got 100-200 'reactions' from across the world, and almost every one of them forgets the film's title. This is the genius of the writing - we are told there is a wild, crazy psycho in the film and NONE of us remember that for most of the film-! Why? Because we're speeding along this film's story, drawn ahead not to introspection. Did anyway think "Gee - I wonder what the title PSYCHO means?" as Norman is doing his usual motel-room manager room-cleanup? "I have the mop... I have the bucket... toss in a few towels..." When Marion's car doesn't sink steadily, we see Norman start to fret - oh no! Then he relaxes and thinks, "Ah good... there she goes... Mother's protected again."

[@positivelynegative9149]

The speculation about connections between Psycho and Halloween. 🤣 Jamie Lee Curtis is the daughter of Hollywood royalty ; Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.

[@catherinelw9365]

Janet Leigh!

[@positivelynegative9149]

​@@catherinelw9365 Yes. I don't know what I was thinking. 🤣

[@johnmaynardable]

I love Alfred Hitchcock. He is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. You have a lot of great films to explore. This film was made well after color films were the norm, but Hitchcock wanted it in B & W. He also wanted to make it quickly. So he used the crew that shot his weekly TV series because they were accustomed to B & W and they knew to shoot quickly. So they started when the TV series broke for summer. Such a brilliant movie with so many groundbreaking moments. The shower sequence is amazing in what it does and doesn't reveal. Enjoy the journey you have ahead. Also know that Hitchcock always tried to work a little cameo for himself in each film, try to catch them.

[@Orcl1100]

The performance by Janet Leigh who earned an Oscar nomination for supporting actress and Anthony Perkins are great. But the underrated actress Vera Miles who discovers “Mrs. Bates” had a lot of reactions in the fruit cellar. Check her out in Hitchcock’s “The Wrong Man.” Opposite Henry Fonda.

[@Insolent8]

Glad you had a good time with this one. Definitely an all time classic for a reason.

[@RyanCarrington]

No doubt!

[@mildredpierce4506]

Marion’s coworker in the office who was married is actually Alfred Hitchcock’s daughter Pat.

[@anthonythorne8708]

You'll enjoy a second viewing. Lots of hints, clues, suggestive moments, and clever symbols - explains why you keep seeing mirrors in the background of so many scenes too. Check out Hitchcock's FRENZY, REAR WINDOW, 39 STEPS, VERTIGO, THE BIRDS. They're all great.

[@karimhicks8376]

Norman Bates, was actually inspired by ED GEIN. He was also the inspiration for BUFFALO BILL, in The Silence of the Lambs; and the inspiration for Tobe Hooper's, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.

[@BryGoose]

You actually kind of scared me at the very end of the video. Thought the image of you was going to jump scare me with that soundtrack 😂

[@everyonelovesmajima]

Fun fact: First American film to show a toilet flushing because toilets were still vulgar and obscene in 1960. The MPAA repeatedly rejected the shower scene, shockingly, because they insisted they saw nudity, despite Janet Leigh never being nude on camera in the first place.

[@artoniinisto9022]

Tarantino commented once that Hitchcock started the genre of psychological and realistic horror films here and after his run, Roman Polanski continued for a while, then e.g. Dario Argento, John Carpenter and Brian dePalma (with many Hitchcock homage films, like Obsession, Body Double, Blow-Out, Sisters). All their work merits watching. Hitchcock did have the most focused vision as he dealt with the same theme of man/woman, good/evil, light/dark, innocence/guilt, watching/being seen in practically all his films. Here Norman and Marion (almost the same name, anyway) are basically one person with similar situations struggling to free themselves like birds from their cages. Birds, the film, and Marnie, afterwards are like Psycho. Even Frenzy is much like it.

[@nicolem376]

So glad you finally watched this!

[@Ceractucus]

Janet Leigh who plays Marion Crane is Jamie Lee Curtis’ mom. The other secretary in the office at the beginning is Hitchcock’s daughter. Hitchcock was famous for doing a cameo in nearly every one of his films. In this movie he is at the beginning, catching a bus (I think).

[@RyanCarrington]

Oooh good to know!

[@bigs1546]

Welcome to Hitchcock ! Hitchcock made the movie in B&W [so the legend goes] because someone said that because of colour in movies you can't do B&W anymore - so he did - to perfection! He used all the nuances you can get from that medium. Hitchcock can be seen in cameo in all his movies - look for him right at the start. The other secretary who took the tranquilizers was Hitchcock's Daughter. He directed too many great films but I do love "Rope", "Rear Window" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much" not in that order, but you can also slot in there one I often go back to : "The Thirty-Nine Steps" [1935] - you can why he understood B&W so well from his early films.

[@smokeyverton7981]

Ed Gein inspired so much crazy stuff.

[@RyanCarrington]

Oh yeah, I should've thought about him! I've got an Ed Gein book on my bookshelf.

[@davidgolding8995]

Great video, keep up the great work:)

[@RyanCarrington]

Thanks man

[@YvetteKeyser]

Just liked and subbed. Your reaction was very enjoyable and humorous.

[@RyanCarrington]

Great to have you!

[@karimhicks8376]

Fun Fact; this was the 1st movie, to show a toilet flushing! Also the 1st movie to have the leading lady/actress killed off.

[@donkfail1]

If you like movies taking place in one location, check out two of my favorite Hitchcock movies: Rope (1948) and Rear Window (1954). Rope also plays out in (almost) real time, and Hitchcock had actually planned to make it a one scene movie without cuts. But it was too hard and when they made it in colour they couldn't make such long shots. But he hid a lot of cuts cleverly, so it almost feels like one take.

[@glen1ster]

2:26---Alfred Hitchcock's daughter 39:36--skull superimposed over Norman's face

[@traceyreid4585]

And titles designed by .... Saul Bass, graphic design legend😊

[@nickperkins8477]

Your analysis is awesome!!

[@RyanCarrington]

Appreciate that, man!

[@phila3884]

Being familiar with the best artists of the last 50 years (or century for that matter) makes you a more interesting person-or at least more interesting at parties, where it really matters. You are fixing that with your channel and inspiring others to do the same.

[@illcryst]

I love your reactions man, keep up the good work. Old school movies are the best, keep em coming 👊🍻

[@Missy-24]

If I remember correctly, before this movie, Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates) was cast as a charming, awkward young men in romance/romcoms. I liked him a lot in "Goodbye again" (1961). I'm not sure he was typecast as this exact archetype, but no one saw him as the horror icon he would become.

[@goodowner5000]

He was great also in the film, "Fear Strikes Out", a true life story dealing with mental illness about baseball player Jim Piersall(? not sure of the spelling)w/father played by Karl Malden.

[@conureron3792]

Love Rear Window, too.

[@claudettesmith8328]

The first leading lady is Janet Leigh& she is Jaime Leigh Curtis(Halloween 1978& more.)

[@HuntingViolets]

Yes, Sam Loomis from _Halloween_ is an homage to this Sam Loomis. _Halloween_ also stars Jamie Lee Curtis, of course, daughter of Janet Leigh, our leading lady (for a while) here.

[@lizmagu3189]

"His mother's a dick" 🤣🤣🤣 This is the all time best movie to watch people react to. I almost thought you were gonna figure it out when you heard him and his 'mother' talking to each other. Great reaction!! 👍

[@RyanCarrington]

I'm torn with being annoyed for not figuring it out when I was so close, and being super happy, I got to experience the twist haha

[@mynameispaul0530]

There's a lot of cool trivia about this movie and Hitchcock's filming techniques.

[@HassoBenSoba]

Watching your reaction gives us a good idea of what audiences experienced back in 1960..EXCEPT for the fact that they had NEVER seen anything remotely like this..whereas we've all been conditioned and dulled by the past 60+ years of insane, depraved, gory garbage in films (most of it actually "spawned" by Psycho, the grand-daddy of the slasher genre). As you point out, Psycho is true cinematic ART, every frame of it. Hitchcock was a master, and had a great time manipulating his audience, which went in expecting to see one of his typical suspense thrillers (I remember my mother and her friends seeing this film in Hammond, IN in the fall of 1960; they were stunned). And whereas many critics pan the final "explanation" scene with the psychiatrist (Simon Oakland), it's absolutely necessary to a.) help audiences sort out and make sense of what they've just witnessed and b.) give us all a sense of "refuge", the restoration of law and order, after the trauma we've just experienced. Brilliant film making. Glad you enjoyed it.