id like to say at a motel on a desserted road - Psycho (1960) Discussion

[–] ecarle (14979) 5 years ago

A couple of comments from critics about Psycho and motels:

"...put the motel business back a generation."

"...makes you think twice about stopping at a building that looks even remotely like the Bates Motel."

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Psycho is famous for its shower scene, but that shower isn't in a surburban house, or even in the Bates Gothic mansion, or in an urban apartment.

That shower is in a motel. A motel the middle of rural back country nowhere, with no other guests. A motel that, physically, has seen better days.

That motel is a key part of the terror of Psycho and why it sticks in the mind.

For decades, the backcountry of America was dotted with motels like the Bates Motel. Those "mom and pops"(or just moms, in the case of the Bates Motel) were eventually overtaken by chains like Motel 6 and Best Western...but even a chain motel or two has had some real-life psychopathic murders take place there.

Once , in the many years since I saw Psycho, did I actually end up alone in a motel of that nature. I ended up bracing the outer door with a chair...and not sleeping very well. And I skipped a shower.

Psycho had done its dark magic with me.

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[–] [email protected] (6247) 5 years ago

That has never bothered me. I used to have a job that included a lot of travel. Sometimes we had rooms in little motels (not always big hotels). I just never gave it a moment's thought.

But I'm sure you've heard of the story Hitchcock told about an irate father who wrote him a letter. His daughter saw Diabolique and was afraid of baths. She saw Psycho and was afraid to shower.
Hitchcock's answer was to "send her to the dry cleaners".

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 5 years ago

It wouldn't bother me even if I absconded with $400,000 in today's money and stayed at room #1 in a motel like that on a deserted highway. What would be creepy is if I saw a silhouette of an old woman in a house next door and then I heard her talking to her homosexual son angrily and loudly in a very disapproving manner. Then I'd skip the shower and leave with money on the bed for the room. Fairvale here I come to see Marion and take a shower with her ;).

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[–] bobbydallas (8683) 5 years ago

that's like Clowns complaining about IT..

bunch-a-nonsense.

i always stay at motels cause I am broke af

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[–] liscarkat (19427) 5 years ago

There are countless movies and television episodes in which people are murdered in houses and automobiles, yet I still live in a house and drive a car. You've just got to move on.

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[–] ecarle (14979) 5 years ago

There are countless movies and television episodes in which people are murdered in houses and automobiles, yet I still live in a house and drive a car. You've just got to move on.

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Sure, but "in real life," you may have houses on either side of you, or cars all around you.

Psycho postulated that at a motel -- with no other guests -- you have rather given over your life to strangers. You will perform such intimacies as showering, going to the bathroom -- and sleeping a long dark night -- in a place that's not yours. THEY have the keys. (Although one wonders how Psycho would play if Cabin One had a chain lock on the door.)

There have been a few more movies about the dangers of motels over the years(a strange one was called "Motel Hell.") Perhaps the best(if not at Psycho level) is "Vacancy."

A bickering couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) have to stay at a motel as the only guests. They put a VHS into their TV and see a couple being attacked and murdered "on tape" by masked invaders. In a motel room. Which proves to be THIS motel room that they are in...and then someone starts pounding on the door.

"Vacancy" was allowed to go all out (R rating) on terror and sadism, and postulated a gang of psychos who make snuff movies in their motel for sale to creeps. Again, its not on the level of Psycho(and not nearly as enjoyable) but it sure makes you think twice about staying at a motel.

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