Psycho---Ricky Leighton

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is renowned by film critics for it's uniquely edited sequences. While the editing techniques build suspense and terrify the audience, the editing also allows the magnitude of the material to come through and scare the audience with unconventional cuts and angles. Through out the entire film, the editing allows the content of the narrative to seep through and scare audiences simply by freaking them out.
For instance, in the often analyzed shower sequence in which not one bare breast or knife plunge is shown, the editing focuses on other elements of the situation to create scare tactics. The sequence shows the blood dripping down the drain and the blurry figure through the shower curtain. All of these shots depict what it would really be like to be attacked in the shower. The shots don't include prosetic skin being torn apart by a prop knife. Instead, the sequence steers away from these fake elements and uses the reality of the situation to horrify onlookers.
When the Private Investigator is interrogating Norman Bates about Marie Crane, the shots remain fairly standard, switching back and forth from shot reverse shot to two shots. Then once the Investigator breaks into the house, the shot becomes a high angle and only depicts the PI walking up the stairs and the light shining through the doorway. The PI creeps up the stairs and the editing allows the drama to become tense and gradually build up. During the attack scene, the stabbing doesn't become too gory and again focuses on the length of the knife and the look of terror across the man's face. The editors choice to remain on the PI's face is an attempt at allowing the audience to understand what it would really feel like to be in that circumstance.
The best part about Psycho is that the context of the story allows all of the murders and the psychological status of Norman Bates to feel realistic. This causes the material to hit home and strike a specific chord in the audience. Everyone knows what it's like to be tempted by money, to drive in a terrible storm and fear the actions of someone criminally insane (even though they appear to be normal). Part of the reason why this film is priceless, is because the clever editing accents the material and provides a unique look and feel to a very distinct genre.