8 Great Acting Performances That Outshone The Horror Movie

One of horror’s most commended performances is, of course, Anthony Perkins in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho - a film dubbed often as the granddaddy of the slasher sub-genre with its pioneering build of suspense centred around every-day American life.

No longer was horror only found in gothic Transylvanian castles. The same angsty fear now resided closer to the human spirit - it lurked next-door, or even up the stairs. Anthony Perkins was the perfect choice for the composed yet eerily creepy motel-owner Norman Bates, and his performance still to this day stands as an incredible example of an untrustworthy sociopath you can’t help but be charmed by.

As the creator of one of horror’s most iconic antagonists, critics hailed Psycho as a re-invention of the horror genre, and for Hitchcock, it was yet another masterpiece to go down in cinematic history.

Then came the surprise sequel Psycho II in 1983 - a long 23 years after the release of the original. There were serious doubts hanging over its head questioning whether the story needed any further exploration, but thankfully, Anthony Perkins returned to the screen to continue his excellent portrayal of Bates.

This first sequel is generally considered to be a flawed but totally watchable follow-up, but then came Psycho III, which is contrarily labeled as absolutely unforgivable. It’s an example of when a plot is stretched out to places it doesn’t need to go, and at this point, Perkins’s still respectable performance of Bates is wasted by ineffective story-telling.

Ironically, Perkins was also the film’s mastermind director, so if there’s anyone to blame, its actually the knife-wielding shower killer himself.