One film fan’s recent experience watching Alfred Hitchcock’s influential horror feature Psycho has gone viral , as it highlighted how streaming services and their practices can damage the impact of certain moments. One of the acclaimed director’s most recognizable features, 1960’s Psycho starred Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, a secretary on the run who has a fateful stay at Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) unnerving motel. Suspenseful and atmospheric, Psycho stands out as one of Hitchcock’s most influential pieces, daring to set new boundaries and becoming an early example of the slasher subgenre.
Psycho has sparked a new discussion over how audiences are viewing movies after VHSdude on Twitter shared his latest experience streaming the movie on AppleTV+. In the video, one of Psycho‘s most iconic cuts is interrupted by the service’s user interface, zooming out from the feature while the movie is still playing to offer recommendations on what to watch next, spoiling a chilling moment.
VHSDudes’ observation was met with further shock across the Twitter film community, as @juneameliarose decried the decision.
@NotJustAnyPod stated the cutaway left the chilling image unseen.
@DerekBGayle reflected on similar broadcast cutaway gaffes.
Alternatively, @ChloeNumberIII wondered what other movies could be similarly spoiled.
@AdmiralBlue5 and @RachelLeishman joked about what exactly the service recommended next.
@EricFrancisco24, @KeyJay115, and @Jtaylor0_3 highlighted how the practice left many creatives’ contributions unacknowledged.
Even Patton Oswalt was left shocked by the cutaway.
Why Psycho’s Ending Is An Iconic Horror Moment
Hitchcock Leaves Viewers Uncertain Until The Very End
In Psycho‘s ending, a now in-custody Norman Bates sits alone in an empty police cell, as a voice-over of the long-deceased Norma Bates (Virginia Gregg) states that every crime committed had been her son’s doings. Yet, as the monologue continues, it becomes clearer that the psychiatrist (Simon Oakland) was correct in his diagnosis that “Mother” is now another personality to Norman, the voice-over switching to Norman’s perspective. All this is emphasized with the insertion of a shot of Norma’s corpse overlaying Norman’s chilling smile.
Psycho isn’t initially clear on who the titular Psycho may be, leaving it to viewers to determine whether it is Marion breaking under the pressure of her crimes, the controlling Norma, or Norman being an unwilling accomplice to his mother’s crimes. With the start of Norma’s monologue, doubt is still cast on whether Norman is still a victim of his mother long after her death, only for the two to be established as the same in its final moments. As such, Hitchcock lives up to his reputation as the Master of Suspense, keeping viewers on edge until the very end.
Our Thoughts On Psycho’s Streaming Cutaway Controversy
Many Classic Movies Are Let Down By Streaming Service Priorities
With streaming services determining their success on the number of minutes viewers are engaged with their programming, it is unsurprising to see more services trying to maintain their attention. Rather than giving a viewer the chance to turn away, a quick recommendation is given to keep them engaged. And much like how they offer viewers the opportunity to skip title sequences, this engagement can lead to services cutting credits short.
While this practice works for features that have their credits following a movie’s runtime, it is unworkable for classic features predating most 70’s productions that placed their far shorter credits before a feature. With many older movies keeping their stories running to the final second, it is likely many iconic cinema moments have been disturbed by the algorithm, be it Some Like It Hot’s final line or the atmospheric walkway in Casablanca’s closing moments. While Psycho’s recent viral cut may highlight this disturbance, it is easy to imagine many movies have suffered similar blunders in recent years.
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