Comments on: Psycho (1960) http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/ Film reviews and commentary tonight, before I forget tomorrow Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:21:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Joe Valdez http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-2427 Joe Valdez Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:14:29 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/#comment-2427 Damian: Thanks for your great contributions throughout the month. I agree that the slasher genre owes its genesis to Hitchcock and <em>Psycho</em>. Personally, deep water will always scare me more than people, and I think the box office influence of <em>Jaws</em> can be felt in Hollywood to this day, but <em>Psycho</em> is still a masterwork. Aaron: November? Crap! I miss the bus once again. Thanks for devoting your Saturday afternoon to designing the awesome promo graphic and button for The 31 Days of Hitchcock. People want to know how they can get their own “button” and I have to tell them that was just design jargon. Megan: Thanks for all of the comments you supplemented my reviews with throughout the month. All I’m doing here is giving you some ideas for your rental queue. Let me know which Hitchcock movies you rent and what you think! Robert: Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not sure if I can survive the 31 Days of Kenny Rogers. The 31 Days of Diane Lane would be far easier and would get you a review of <em>Six Pack</em> to savor. Damian: Thanks for your great contributions throughout the month. I agree that the slasher genre owes its genesis to Hitchcock and Psycho. Personally, deep water will always scare me more than people, and I think the box office influence of Jaws can be felt in Hollywood to this day, but Psycho is still a masterwork.

Aaron: November? Crap! I miss the bus once again. Thanks for devoting your Saturday afternoon to designing the awesome promo graphic and button for The 31 Days of Hitchcock. People want to know how they can get their own “button” and I have to tell them that was just design jargon.

Megan: Thanks for all of the comments you supplemented my reviews with throughout the month. All I’m doing here is giving you some ideas for your rental queue. Let me know which Hitchcock movies you rent and what you think!

Robert: Thanks for the suggestion, but I’m not sure if I can survive the 31 Days of Kenny Rogers. The 31 Days of Diane Lane would be far easier and would get you a review of Six Pack to savor.

]]> By: Robert http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-2414 Robert Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:45:23 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/#comment-2414 And it provided the sample for the end of the Paul's Boutique classic "Egg Man." I haven't been able to keep up with the marathon on an everyday basis but have enjoyed all of the reviews and have been much impressed. As Aaron said, you made it. Now everyone gets to hear your story! Keep up the great work. And when's the "31 Days of Kenny Rogers" going to take place? Don't tell me that's just a rumor! I'm dying for a "Six Pack" review. And it provided the sample for the end of the Paul’s Boutique classic “Egg Man.” I haven’t been able to keep up with the marathon on an everyday basis but have enjoyed all of the reviews and have been much impressed. As Aaron said, you made it. Now everyone gets to hear your story! Keep up the great work. And when’s the “31 Days of Kenny Rogers” going to take place? Don’t tell me that’s just a rumor! I’m dying for a “Six Pack” review.

]]> By: Megan http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-2311 Megan Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:48:14 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/#comment-2311 Hey, that's not all you're doing! Hey, that’s not all you’re doing!

]]> By: Megan http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-2307 Megan Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:52:54 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/#comment-2307 I just finished reading the Wikipedia entry on this movie, and at the end is a list of shows that have 'spoofed' the shower scene. Odd that almost all of them were children's cartoons. Or maybe not? Hmmmm. I'll be doing some thinking about that! Congratulations Joe and thanks so much for such a great series! I've got some new movies to watch and some old favorites to revisit. Perfect for the colder, darker nights that are approaching... I just finished reading the Wikipedia entry on this movie, and at the end is a list of shows that have ’spoofed’ the shower scene. Odd that almost all of them were children’s cartoons. Or maybe not? Hmmmm. I’ll be doing some thinking about that!

Congratulations Joe and thanks so much for such a great series! I’ve got some new movies to watch and some old favorites to revisit. Perfect for the colder, darker nights that are approaching…

]]> By: Aaron http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-2304 Aaron Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:46:09 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/#comment-2304 dude, you made it. congratulations! were you aware that November is National Blog Posting Month? amateurs! dude, you made it. congratulations! were you aware that November is National Blog Posting Month? amateurs!

]]> By: Damian http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-2285 Damian Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:17:04 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2007/10/31/psycho-1960/#comment-2285 Fantastic, Joe! I am so glad to hear you liked the movie. You are absolutely correct about <i>Psycho</i> "shattering" cinematic conventions (such as tricking the audience into sympathizing with the "villian," shocking them with the brutal murder of the film's star about a 1/3 of the way into it, etc). The film is a masterpiece of audience manipulation. I might quarrel with your assertion that <i>Jaws</i> is both more influential and more terrifying. In addition to being two of my all-time favorites, I would also contend that both were <i>equally</i> as influential and terrifying for the time periods in which they were both made. Both <i>Jaws</i> and <i>Psycho</i> not only spawned a cavalcade of imitators (all of which were inferior) but seemed to tap into a deeply-rooted and universally shared fear that actually changed the way people behaved in real life. How many movies that affect on culture/society? Great piece, Joe, and nice us of screebgrabs too. I love the moment where Marion extends her hand toward the camera in the shower (almost as if she were reaching out the audience for help), but the camera pulls back as if to say "Nope. Sorry. We're just here to observe." And, of course, everytime I see that final shot of Norman (now completely changed to "mother") smiling up at me, it sends shivers down my spine. Fantastic, Joe! I am so glad to hear you liked the movie.

You are absolutely correct about Psycho “shattering” cinematic conventions (such as tricking the audience into sympathizing with the “villian,” shocking them with the brutal murder of the film’s star about a 1/3 of the way into it, etc). The film is a masterpiece of audience manipulation.

I might quarrel with your assertion that Jaws is both more influential and more terrifying. In addition to being two of my all-time favorites, I would also contend that both were equally as influential and terrifying for the time periods in which they were both made. Both Jaws and Psycho not only spawned a cavalcade of imitators (all of which were inferior) but seemed to tap into a deeply-rooted and universally shared fear that actually changed the way people behaved in real life. How many movies that affect on culture/society?

Great piece, Joe, and nice us of screebgrabs too. I love the moment where Marion extends her hand toward the camera in the shower (almost as if she were reaching out the audience for help), but the camera pulls back as if to say “Nope. Sorry. We’re just here to observe.” And, of course, everytime I see that final shot of Norman (now completely changed to “mother”) smiling up at me, it sends shivers down my spine.

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