To celebrate the Halloween season, The Auburn Plainsman Lifestyle Section is reviewing and recommending related movies for people to watch. Ranging from frightening, nightmare-inducing thrillers to wholesome, family-friendly flicks, reviews will cover a variety of genres. Read a synopsis and our thoughts, and then take a look at the “spooky” meter, a rating out of five that details whether we think this movie is worth watching during Halloween time. If you would like to write a Halloween-related film review and have it published, email srb0106@auburn.edu.
The 1960 horror film “Psycho,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock, illustrates a slew of chilling events that take place over a weekend in Arizona and California. On a Friday afternoon, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) commits a monetary crime that motivates her to go on the run. She stops at the Bates Motel and charms the man who runs the motel, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). At the Motel, Crane meets her mysterious end, and her sister, Lila Crane (Vera Miles) employs a private detective, Milton Arbogast (Martin Balsam), to search for her. When Arbogast stops responding with updates, Lila and Sam Loomis (John Gavin), Marion’s boyfriend, go to the Bates Motel themselves and discover a mortifying secret about the events that occurred there.
I was thoroughly impressed by this film. Released in 1960, “Psycho” provides a refreshing take on terror, compared to what constitutes the modern horror movie industry. Today, many popular scary movies deal with complex topics, like dystopian societies, monsters or demons. I enjoyed “Psycho” a lot, because the premise of the movie is simple and has no embellishments. It simply involves the mystery of murder. The simplicity of the movie suggests that the scenario detailed in the plot is very likely – as opposed to a vampire movie, which is not realistic. The realism that “Psycho” presents makes it scary in itself, and it does not require the aid of evil nuns and ghosts around every corner.
The modesty of the movie pleased me as well. As a consumer of modern horror movies, I find that a lot of them utilize blood and gore as a fear tactic. While this is a fair strategy and it definitely targets squeamish viewers, I found it interesting that “Psycho” could still keep me on edge without using excessive gore or blood. That is not to say that there is no violence in the film. The movie is just able to convey the violence in a way that is not explicit, as the visuals embody the conservative social expectations of mid-twentieth century America. I prefer this movie to the especially gory ones, such as the Saw franchise, that have dominated the industry in recent years. The indirect violence is more powerful than an explicitly bloody scene, because the tragedy is understated and not used as a gimmick; it feels more real.
Another aspect of the film that I liked is the interesting plot. While viewing, I felt like I was watching a murder-mystery movie, similar to something like “Scooby-Doo.” While the movie is spooky, it is not necessarily scary. The acting is characteristic of the time period, complete with a cheesy script and transatlantic accents. However, my opinion is the outdated nature of the movie adds to its charm.
The movie’s soundtrack was an additional notable aspect of my viewing experience. The music, which consisted of high-pitched, tense orchestra sounds, was a constant throughout the entire film. It was bare and did not have any real variation. For every tense scene, where music was necessary, it was the same sound each time. I enjoyed the stability of the soundtrack and appreciated its return each time it was used. The music perfectly encompasses the psychological uneasiness that one may get from this film.
Due to budget constraints, the movie was filmed in black and white. While opinions may vary, I found the monochromatic visuals of “Psycho” to be incredibly effective. From a retrospective point of view, it adds to the spooky, antiquated feel of the film. I think that the lack of color also makes the film feel more classic and iconic, which just adds to the setting ambience and the overall viewing experience.
SPOOKY RECOMMENDATION METER: 4/5
I recommend this film to those who want to expand their horizons beyond the gory landscape of today’s horror film industry. Additionally, I believe that this film is suitable for family viewing, as it is not too scary. There are brief scenes of violence and nudity, but overall, the movie is very appropriate for children and other impressionable minds. “Psycho” is well known as a classic, and I believe that everyone could benefit from viewing an iconic, tasteful movie that is distinct from today’s horror film industry.
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Lorelei Young, sophomore majoring in English language arts education, is from Columbiana, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
