Psycho in the Shower

Penned by a leading expert on Hitchcock’s legendary masterpiece, Psycho in the Shower offers a cascade of facts, factoids, close analyses, and flights of cinephilia that Hitchcock admirers of all persuasions will profit from and enjoy. It includes informative and entertaining looks at everything from the opening titles to links with other Hitchcock pictures and the intriguing debate about exactly what Norman’s knife does in the most famous murder scene ever filmed. Skerry’s book is a treat for dedicated scholars and casual fans alike. * David Sterritt, Film Professor, Maryland Institute College of Art and Professor Emeritus, Long Island University, USA, and author of The Films of Alfred Hitchcock (2026) *
Phil Skerry's in-depth analysis of Hitchcock's famous shower sequence in Psycho is an invaluable contribution to film studies, written in a clear and insightful style which is also enthusiastic and accessible. * Louis Giannetti, Professor Emeritus of English and Film, Case Western Reserve University, USA, and author of Understanding Movies and other books *
A passionate, engaging, and selectively autobiographical account of perhaps the most iconic montage sequence in film history. Skerry's meticulous account of the shower scene circles outward from the Bates Motel bathroom to detailed discussions of Psycho (1960), the work of director Alfred Hitchcock, and the 1998 remake by Gus Van Sant, offering numerous intriguing observations and connections along the way. * Matthew Solomon, Professor of Film, Television, and Media, University of Michigan, USA *
It stands to reason that the most important sequence in cinema history should have its own book study. Philip J. Skerry’s ekphrastic opus, Psycho in the Shower, is just that. Precisely written and meticulously researched, Skerry’s book tells Hitchcock fans everything they wanted to know about the shower sequence, including things they were afraid to ask. Revised and expanded, Psycho in the Shower is at least five books in one: it’s a series of interviews, it’s a shot-by-shot analysis, a compendium of new critical essays, a collection of recollections, and a devotional. It’s also a must. * John Bruns, Professor of Film Studies, College of Charleston, USA *
I closed my eyes here when I first saw Psycho, but now know better: we surely must look at the shower scene deeply and repeatedly, as Philip Skerry does so knowledgeably, passionately, and engagingly. His microscopic analysis is rewarding, as is what I think of as his wide-ranging critical vista vision, offering his readers interviews with various contributors to Psycho, reflections on the place of this sequence in the film and also in the context of all of Hitchcock’s films, and commentaries from numerous watchers capturing the indelible impact of 45 seconds of Hitchcock’s pure cinema at its best. * Sidney Gottlieb, Professor of Communication and Media Arts, Sacred Heart University, USA, and editor of Hitchcock on Hitchcock (1995 and 2015) and the Hitchcock Annual *
Readers who perversely thought Philip J. Skerry’s definitive volume on Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous scene was somehow incomplete when it was first published in 2009 will be delighted to see it return to print in an expanded edition that includes chapters by noted contributors who examine the importance of Bernard Herrmann’s music track, analyze Gus Van Sant’s uniquely close remake of Psycho, and ask what Janet Leigh’s body double has to tell us about Hitchcock and the female body. You can expect hours of pleasure from this even more comprehensive exploration of one of cinema’s pivotal turning points—but be sure to shower first. * Thomas Leitch, Professor Emeritus, University of Delaware, USA *
The original edition of Psycho in the Shower taught us many new things about Hitchcock’s most famous film, and the additional material included in this wonderful revised and expanded edition teaches us yet more. Philip J. Skerry writes with real clarity and knowledge, making this book an essential point of reference. * Neil Badmington, Professor of English Literature, Cardiff University, UK *
Philip J. Skerry’s detailed and entertaining analysis brings us closer than ever to one of film’s most famous scenes and one of cinema’s most enduring movies. * Christina Lane, Professor of Film Studies, University of Miami, USA *