Psyco

The 1960’s marked a big change in American cinema. With the collapse of the Hollywood Studio System came a weakening of censorship laws. Sex and violence moved from the shadows to the forefront of mainstream cinema. Although it quickly became clear that a market existed for such films, the earliest attempts to venture into the world of modern cinema were met with resistance. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, made in 1960, was one of the first of many to show sexuality and violence in a graphic approach. Although the youth market was ready for such a change, the older audience resisted the modern trends. For this reason, Psycho was initially received by many with anger and critical rejection, before moving on to be named “Hitchcock’s greatest film”.

Psycho, produced by Universal Studios and released through Paramount contained a frank illustration of sex and violence unlike any mainstream film that had preceded it, the film included the first love scene in American popular cinema ever to feature a pair of lovers lying half-naked on a bed. Not only did Psycho portray two brutal murders, but the first occurred in the intimacy of the shower. As a result, Hitch

Although the critical evaluation of Psycho was at times ambiguous, there was never any doubt as to the tremendous impact it had on its viewers. From the very first screenings, audience reaction, in the form of gasps, screams, yells, even running up and down the aisles, was unmatched. The film’s enormous popularity with the younger generation of filmgoers brought in gross amounts of revenue. Due to its unqualified financial success, Psycho had a great influence on the industry’s perception of films. It proved, as Hitchcock had intended, that the classical Hollywood narrative did not have a monopoly on cinematic success, the lower end of the filmmaking industry, the horror film, was indeed popular and capable of drawing vast sums of money. Audiences took pleasure in losing control of the classical narrative cinema, which took second place to a series of visual and auditory shocks and thrills. Part of the reason Psycho’s impact was so great was that it challenged the cinematic conventions of Hollywood from within the studio system. The success of Psycho meant that other production companies would soon make similar pictures. Sex and violence became in the 1960s the very reason for a whole new cinematic tradition. The way had been paved for a new group of fresh and youthful films such as Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate, and Easy Rider. Although some viewers and critics responded negatively to Psycho, their appraisal changed once they had time to reassess the value of the film. Nearly forty years after the film’s release, Psycho is still cited as a masterpiece that has inspired many dozens of other films. The effect both in the short run, in establishing Psycho as the ultimate thriller, and the long run, in altering the cinema-going habits are unarguable.

The timing was perfect. In 1960 in the United States the number of teenagers was on the rise, there were more people in the 15 to 19-year-old category than in any other adult age range. In addition, the number of children under 15 years of age greatly surpassed the number of young adults in the population. Not only was there a current market for modern films, but an even greater surge in the youth market was coming up. Although the mixed reviews and sexuality kept a fair number of Hitchcock’s older fans away from Psycho, this did not put off the younger audience. Beyond the violent content, the Slasher film gave a clearer picture of current sexual attitudes. Although such attitudes may have shocked and upset more mature audiences, the younger generation was delighted to see a film that reflected their lifestyle. For them, it was a major social event not to be missed. However, the passionate response the film stirred up from its more senior viewers was not based solely on the content of daring sexuality and brutality. There was a major contrast between the cinematic tools used in Psycho and the example Hitchcock had set for himself. Many viewers had come to expect a certain style from Hitchcock and were shocked and disappointed when they saw otherwise. Even critics who did not respond negatively to the film felt that it was below the standard set by Hitchcock. One reviewer wrote: “Psycho is a grade-A program, but not grade-A Hitchcock”. Many critics who strongly disliked Psycho upon its release were said to have rejected the film not only because of its departure from the Hitchcockian tradition. Hitchcock, in order to maintain the film’s mystery, had denied critics a pre-screening of Psycho. This act was said to have irritated the critics and caused them to judge the film particularly harshly. However, the initial rejection of Psycho was more likely to have been due to the film’s uniqueness.

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