If you know a fan of the horror / psychological thriller genre, then you will want to buy Psycho 50th Anniversary Edition. Fifty years later, this movie still has to power to make you afraid to step into your shower!
In 1960, audiences had no idea what to expect from this Alfred Hitchcock film; the plot had been jealously guarded so the twists were completely unexpected. But even now, when almost everyone knows the story, whether they’ve seen the movie or not, viewers are seldom disappointed. The movie is very loosely based on the story of serial killer Ed Gein.
Psycho is the tale of Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh. When we first meet Marion she is in a motel with her lover, played by John Gavin. He cannot marry her because he still has to pay alimony to his former wife. But when Marion has the opportunity to steal $40,000 from her employer, suddenly this obstacle is no longer insurmountable. Marion must flee to her lover across the state line. She is understandably scared about being caught by the police and takes evasive action by trading in her car in for another model at a used car dealership. Making her getaway, Marion checks into the out-of-the-way Bates Motel.
Anthony Perkins, as Norman Bates is the innkeeper at the Bates Motel. He appears to be an awkward young man who tries to please. But he comes off as creepy, and there’s something weird going on between him and his mother. DVD production notes state that Marion is the most “grossly inconvenienced hotel guest in cinema history.” The mystery begins to unfold as Marion’s sister, Vera Miles, begins to search for her sister assisted by a private investigator played by Martin Balsam.. The plot unfolds, and viewers will be on the edge of their seats.
Special features include:
- The Making of Psycho
- Psycho Sound
- In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy
- Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts
- Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho
- The Shower Scene: With and Without Music
- The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass
- The Psycho Archives
- Lobby Cards
- Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
- Production Photographs
- Theatrical Trailer
- Re-release Trailers
- My Scenes
- Feature Commentary with Stephen Rebello (author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”)
- BD Live
Run time for this movie is 109 minutes.
Fifty years later, Psycho still holds up. You won’t go wrong if you purchase Psycho 50th Anniversary Edition for anyone who likes this genre.
