Norman Bates is undoubtedly the most unforgettable character in the horror genre. His movements, voice and aura radiate a shy young man at first, but transform into something more sinister as the film Psycho (Hitchcock, USA, 1960) progresses. How did director Alfred Hitchcock achieve this? Norman Bates was a careful construction: the casting, the body language, the lighting and even the subtle use of sound and staging created the character. Anthony "Tony" Perkins was well known for his roles in romantic comedies. The attractive, shy and well-intentioned young man not only captured the hearts of many teenage girls, but also the eye of Alfred Hitchcock when he searched for the perfect Norman Bates. Hitchcock's clever choice of actor immediately baffled audiences and made them ask: What is Anthony Perkins doing in a horror film? Perkins' shy personality and slightly awkward movements served him well in his usual genre, but did him even better when playing a homicidal schizophrenic. In fact, Perkins' portrayal of Bates made people wonder who killed Marion and Arbogast. This makes the film significantly more thrilling. Norman Bates' character deviated from the book's original character, a forty-year-old pervert, to become Anthony Perkins' character "a tender, vulnerable young man" who you could almost feel sorry for. Perkins plays Norman Bates as if the role was written for him, with his nervous voice used throughout the film and his awkward appearance and actions. A distinct part of Norman's character is his subtle mistakes where he shows signs of the ever-present "Mother". The parlor scene is an excellent example of these errors. The lines "a boy's best friend is his mother" and "we all go a little crazy sometimes" are... middle of paper... and changed the horror genre forever. Alfred Hitchcock's use of actor, lighting, sound, script and staging kept audiences on the edge of their seats and on the edge of their seats. Hitchcock's idea of ​​Norman resonated with audiences, and to this day, his character continues to fool many. From Norman's nervous tics to his murderous "Mother" side, everything was impeccably planned. Norman Bates was a combination of writer, director and actor, perfectly adapted to the screen and perfectly performed. Works Cited http://cinephilefix.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/hitchcocks-symphony-psycho-a-shot-by- shot commentary/ http://garbagedayreviews.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/ birds-in-psycho/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Perkins http://www.angelfire.com/oh2 /writer/anthonyperkins.html http://www.examiner.com/article/the- greatest-performance-of-all-time-a-horror-film