Actors: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, Martin Balsam, John Gavin, Pat Hitchcock.
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Psycho
PSYCHO is Hitchcock's most known movie. The genius shower scene is still studied in film schools everywhere. It horrific display of murder, robbery, and a major case of mental illness. The victim made a name for herself in only thirty minutes of the movie. This movie made people not shower and refuse to stop at roadside motels. Anthony Perkins kills without knowing he is doing so. It's brillant.
--Kelly Alleman, Resident Scholar
Bates Inn takes reservations...
--Tero Hakulinen, Resident Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Analysis of Psycho
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 20% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How difficult to spot villain?
- Somewhat obvious
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Murder Mystery?
Yes
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 40%
Misc. Plotlets
- local police have IQ of houseplant
Special suspect?
- chronically deranged person
Kind of mystery?
- hard boiled/private eye
Horror film?
Yes
Horror Plotlets:
- mad guy with knife likes to slice
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Profession/status:
- small businessman
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- blonde
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- short/butch/lez (woman)
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- very skinny (man)
- skinny (woman)
Unclothed?
- Slightly see-through clothes
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- aggressive
- irritated
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavy
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn curly
Body type
- very skinny (woman)
- ample bosom & buttocks (woman)
Unclothed?
- very tight clothes
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- businessman, small
Eccentric:
Yes
- mentally ill
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
- 80%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- skinny (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- physically sick
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Small town?
Yes
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
- resort/hotel
- building
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
Movie makes you feel...
- challenged
- excited
How many deaths in film?
- 2
- 3-4
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
Kind of violence:
- knives
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
If this isn't a movie...
- Play
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
