P.C. wrote:
I think what makes Psycho so great, is that the violence was 'implied'. You didn't SEE the horror, it was left to the imagination......the music, the camera angles, snippets in flashes etc.
> snip
Anthony Perkins also displayed great subtlety and nuance in his role of psycho serial killer. The awkwardness and innocence that he conveyed in the villain's persona made it much more creepy than it would have been if he performed it in an over-the-top way. The film score, the setting, dynamic camera shots (to this day, filmmakers debate on how the water shooting directly out of the showerhead was shot), the rythmn of the movie all were great. Even enjoyed the expository speech (usually a no-no in film) from the psychiatrist at the end.