Review of Psycho (2007) by The Critic ( — 26 Sep 2012

Alfred Hitchcok's signature masterstroke continuously builds with intense momentum as the multiple layers of this mystery slowly unfold.

The master of suspense directs this thriller with a voyeuristic edge; notice how in some instances the camera swings around the room, allowing us to see curious details that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Delicious dialogue, sharp editing and that famous score compliment an exceptional cast, with the lovely Janet Leigh giving much depth to a role that could've easily been two-dimenssional (she goes from ice queen to nurturing warmth with apparent ease). But the film clearly belongs to Anthony Perkins, whose performance as Norman Bates rates as one of American cinema's very best, delivering a complex character that is instantly likeable; a fractured, awkward boy next door who really makes you believe that he couldn't hurt a fly.

This extremely influential instant classic is a must-see.