Glen or Glenda (1953)

At this point, it almost feels pointless to talk about a movie that has been analyzed to death and spawned a sprawling franchise. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Pyscho really is one of those films that anyone who likes movies is well aware of. So rather than talk about the film itself, I’d like to talk a bit more about the cultural impact of the film and its importance as a piece of cinematic history. And yes, there will be spoilers. But this movie came out over 50 years ago, so really, get on the train if you haven’t seen it by now.

I really should give a quick plot summary, as a refresher. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) pulls a scheme at work and runs away with stolen money. She is on the way to meet her love, Sam. On the road, she pulls over at the Bates Motel to rest up, where she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). One thing leads to another, Crane gets stabbed in the shower by Bates’ overbearing and conservative mother. Yup, the main protagonist got killed off not even halfway through the movie. Twist one. Eventually, Crane’s disappearance gets police attention and the concern of Sam and Crane’s sister. Various clues bring them to the Bates Motel, and eventually, the truth comes out. Norman is a mentally ill individual with disassociative identity disorder (DID) who lapses into his mother’s personality out of guilt for having killed her 10 years prior. Hitchcock pulls off two major twists brilliantly. 

It’s a great movie, full of subtle and not-so-subtle moments, but every one of those moments is pretty memorable. The film is shot in 50mm lenses on 35mm cameras, so the point of view and field of range all resemble our own eyes’ capabilities. The famous peephole scene, the conversations, and the murders, all feel that much more visceral and intense due to the familiar perspective. 

Pyscho is based on Robert Bloch’s novel of the same name, which he published the year prior to the film’s release. Bloch was inspired by a nearby serial killer he had heard about, Ed Gein, who also had been suffering parental issues while cross-dressing and killing people in the middle of nowhere.