Psycho(1960) vs. Homicidal(1961)

[Monster Bob]

Joan Crawford was at her best in SJ and it's worth seeing just for her (and George Kennedy). She also did a bang up job in BERSERK!, where she owned a very accident-prone circus (her somewhat dykey/bitchey ringmaster character is great).

[marsattacks666]

Joan Crawford was at her best in SJ and it's worth seeing just for her (and George Kennedy). She also did a bang up job in BERSERK!, where she owned an accident-prone circus owner (her somewhat dykey/bitchey ringmaster character is great).

[aura of foreboding]

I remember Homicidal as being an interesting watch.  It's not something I've ever wanted to watch again, though.  I think the brilliance of Psycho is how underplayed and understated nearly everything is...  Well, everything except the murders.  And yes, the Arbogast murder was cheesy, but it really stuck with me when I was young. 

[Mord]

Though I haven't seen it in a long time, I remember "Dementia 13" leaving an impact on the young version of me.

[Haunted hearse]

Homicidal is, imo, a very underrated film.

Psycho has the benefit of having one of the greatest film scores in the history of the cinema. So it's always going to have that over Homicidal.

Not to mention one of the greatest characters of all time, in the case of Norman Bates as played by Anthony Perkins.
Not to mention one of the greatest directors of all time, in the case of Sir Alfred Hitchcock.
Not to mention one of the greatest screenplays of all time by Joseph Stefano
Not to mention how great the rest of the cast was (including Janet Leigh, in a superb performance as Marion Crane)
Other than that, the films are preety much equal.

[marsattacks666]

Though I haven't seen it in a long time, I remember "Dementia 13" leaving an impact on the young version of me.

Another Great underrated film.  Directed by the talented, Francis Ford Coppola.

[Robert W]

Not to mention one of the greatest characters of all time, in the case of Norman Bates as played by Anthony Perkins.
Not to mention one of the greatest directors of all time, in the case of Sir Alfred Hitchcock.
Not to mention one of the greatest screenplays of all time by Joseph Stefano
Not to mention how great the rest of the cast was (including Janet Leigh, in a superb performance as Marion Crane)
Other than that, the films are preety much equal.

The only problem I have with Psycho is that is sort of runs out of steam after Leigh's shower scene when the story shifts from her to that of her boyfriend's and sister's. I think Hitch sort of felt that way too. Still, Psycho does have one of the greatest pay-offs in screen history.

[MDG]

The only problem I have with Psycho is that is sort of runs out of steam after Leigh's shower scene when the story shifts from her to that of her boyfriend's and sister's. I think Hitch sort of felt that way too. Still, Psycho does have one of the greatest pay-offs in screen history.

When you sit with an audience that knows about the movie, but doesn't know the story, the impression is totally opposite. I didn't appreciate the genius of how positioned the Fright Break in Homicidal until I felt the audience reaction as Vera Miles wal s up the steps to the mansion.

[Haunted hearse]

The only problem I have with Psycho is that is sort of runs out of steam after Leigh's shower scene when the story shifts from her to that of her boyfriend's and sister's. I think Hitch sort of felt that way too. Still, Psycho does have one of the greatest pay-offs in screen history.

I may be alone in this, but I think the film builds up beautifully, even after the casts dances the time warp-sorry, wrong movie.  The scene where Norman carries his mother protesting down the stairs, the scene where we explore the house, and a lot of clues about what's going on with Norman (Beethove's "Erotica" record on the turntable), the reveal of Norman's dead mother in the cellar.  For me, and I may be alone in this, the film is riveting from beginning to end.

[marsattacks666]

There are some favorite scenes I enjoy from Psycho. But, the one that stands -out is, when,  Dec. Arbogast is asking/interrogating Norman.  The camera closes in on Norman's( Anthony Perkins) Adam's apple. That particular scene makes me uncomfortable. On the edge of my seat. The way Hitchcock directed that scene, was genius.

[Mord]

I may be alone in this, but I think the film builds up beautifully, even after the casts dances the time warp-sorry, wrong movie.  The scene where Norman carries his mother protesting down the stairs, the scene where we explore the house, and a lot of clues about what's going on with Norman (Beethove's "Erotica" record on the turntable), the reveal of Norman's dead mother in the cellar.  For me, and I may be alone in this, the film is riveting from beginning to end.

Seriously? I think most people would agree with your view than those who try to debunk it. Face it, there are some people who feel some joy in trying to tear down a classic. They automatically take the contrary point of view like the character in Monty Python's classic "Argument Clinic" skit. Psycho is an absolute, undeniable classic from beginning to end. I have never heard that Hitchcock felt that the ending was a letdown (and I have read many exhaustive volumes on the subject).