10 Iconic Images From Alfred Hitchcock Films

3. We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes

One of the most dramatic and shocking twists in cinema history is the murder of Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) in Psycho. The audience presumes Marion to be the main character of the film but she is murdered less than a hour in to the film by the very troubled Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), at the Bates Motel. Norman had killed his mother years ago, but, in a form of schizophrenia, still has conversations with her. When a woman enters his life, the mother side of him takes over and he murders the woman. Dressed as his mother, Norman creeps in to the bathroom where Marion is taking a shower. As Norman pulls back the curtain, Bernard Herrmann's unnerving and screeching score kicks in. Making it more disturbing is the fact we never see Norman's face, emphasizing the fact that at this moment, he's not Norman, he's "mother."