Psycho
By Kit Macdonald
Newly restored in stunning 4K, this is the original uncut version of Alfred Hitchcock's horror and thriller masterwork, which includes 13 seconds of footage cut by the censors back in 1960 - an apparently small change that constitutes a very big deal to the film's many superfans. Much imitated but never bettered, Psycho's masterly blend of black comedy, horror and suspense has influenced countless films, from landmark horror movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween to psychological thrillers such as American Psycho and Black Swan.
Adapted from Robert Bloch's novel, Psycho finds its stars Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins on career-defining form. Leigh plays Marion Crane, a secretary who suddenly decides to embezzle money from her employer and ends up at the Bates Motel, managed by Perkins' enigmatic Norman Bates. A delicious, tightly wound ride of twists, pin-sharp dialogue and precise imagery ensues.