Psycho

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Black-and-white still: a young man in a dark suit faces Norman Bates across a dim parlour, an old lamp between them and the young man’s reflection in a mirror behind.

Yeah, I had never seen this film. I personally think I HAVE seen this film in snippets since my youth but that can’t possibly count. I guess in that sense, I came into this film with the personal challenge of determining whether or not this film could possibly be better as a cohesive watch-through despite the fact that I know the twists and turns anecdotally.

I’m glad to say, it really does. Much like when I was watching The Pit and the Pendulum, the consistency of characters with regards to acting in this era of films is just higher. Rational choices are made by believable people, understandable victims make for relatable villains, and human faults drive real motivations that tie this whole story together.

I don’t know that this kind of film could be made anymore. That’s not a lofty “they don’t make ’em like they used to” statement, but a testament to how much preferences in angles, dialogue and pacing have changed in 60 years. Regardless, it’s still a quality of story to strive for and learn from. I loved it.

Score: A