initial reaction to 'Psycho'

'Psycho,' as far as I know, is the first psychological horror film...or at least the first one to gain as much attention as it has over the past four decades. I should probably catch up on my research before saying this, but I'm pretty sure that horror films before this one consisted of your typical werewolf/vampire villian (which, I can't help but still love!). What makes 'Psycho' particularly frightening isn't just the fact that the villian (which, it is arguable to even refer to him as that) is the psychotic Norman Bates, but that he first appears to be one of the kindest, most gentle human beings one can think of. It really makes you wonder if there is someone in your own life that may unexpectedly be...crazy! But interestingly enough, Norman Bates was not the only villian in the film. Up until Marion meets him at the motel, the villian in the film is Marion's guilt. The guilt follows Marion since the moment she left her house with the money, and ironically when Marion thinks she is going to defeat the guilt by returning home, she falls into the the trap of the other villian in the film - Norman Bates (well, his "mother").

What I enjoyed the most about 'Psycho' was that the star of the movie was Norman himself. His character(s) were the focus of the film, as opposed to the Jennifer Love Hewitts and Neve Campbells of today's slasher films. Norman wasn't just a killer running around with a mask stabbing people. He had a story. He had a reason for his madness.