Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, widely regarded as the greatest horror film of all time, is now available for free streaming on BBC iPlayer. The 1960 masterpiece, adapted from Robert Bloch's novel, pioneered the slasher genre and continues to influence modern horror.
Plot and Legacy
The story follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), who steals money from her employer and checks into a remote motel run by the troubled Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). The film's shocking twists, nudity, and violence polarized audiences upon release but are now celebrated as foundational elements of horror cinema. The Guardian called it 'the best horror film of all time' in a 2010 retrospective, and it holds a 97% 'Fresh' score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 95% positive audience rating.
Critical Acclaim
Critics have praised Hitchcock's direction and performances. The Times highlighted his 'impeccable craft,' while NME noted Perkins and Leigh delivered 'career-best' performances. CineXpress described it as 'a masterclass in directing, tone and acting performances,' and the Los Angeles Times called it 'one of his most brilliantly directed shockers.'
Influence and Adaptations
Psycho inspired classics like John Carpenter's Halloween and Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill. It spawned three sequels with Perkins reprising his role, a 1999 shot-for-shot remake directed by Gus Van Sant (featuring Vince Vaughn as Norman), and the TV prequel Bates Motel starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga.
Real-Life Inspiration
The novel was loosely based on real-life killer Ed Gein, though Bloch claimed he wrote most of the book before Gein's 1957 arrest. 'I'd discovered how closely the imaginary character I'd created resembled the real Ed Gein,' Bloch said, per Galaxy Press. Ryan Murphy's Netflix series Monster: The Ed Gein Story explored this connection, drawing criticism for its portrayal of Perkins' sexuality. Perkins' son, Osgood Perkins, director of Longlegs, told TMZ he 'wouldn't watch it with a 10-foot pole.'
Hitchcock's Intended Tone
Despite its terrifying reputation, Hitchcock originally envisioned Psycho as a comedy. On the TV show Monitor four years after release, he said: 'A lot of people looked at this thing and said what a dreadful thing to do... The content as such was, I felt, rather amusing and it was a big joke. I was horrified to find that some people took it seriously.'
Psycho is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
