Today, Friday, October 31, the Hellenic American Union (HAU) invites brave cinephiles to spend Halloween night with one of the most iconic thrillers in film history: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”.
The screening begins at 7 p.m. in HAU’s theatre and marks the opening of this season’s film program with a masterpiece that changed the language of horror forever. The film will be shown in its original version with Greek subtitles, and admission is free, on a first-come, first-served basis.
A night at the Bates Motel
In Hitchcock’s timeless story, Marion Crane, a desperate young woman, steals $40,000 and sets out on a reckless journey to freedom. Her road leads her to the lonely Bates Motel, where she meets the shy, unsettling Norman Bates—a man whose secrets will forever alter her fate, and that of modern cinema itself.
So—are you ready to check in at the Bates Motel?
A film that changed everything
Released in 1960, Psycho shocked audiences and critics alike. Filmed in black and white on a modest budget with the crew of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, it was a daring departure from the director’s glossy thrillers like North by Northwest. The film’s controversial themes—violence, voyeurism, and psychological decay—provoked outrage among moralists of the time but captivated moviegoers worldwide.
What began as a divisive release soon became a cinematic milestone. The film earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Director, and won Janet Leigh a Golden Globe for her unforgettable performance. Today, Psycho is hailed as one of Hitchcock’s greatest works, a masterpiece of tension, shadow, and sound.
American actress Janet Leigh (pictured in 1955) received an Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe for her performance in Psycho as Marion Crane. / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
From the haunting strings of Bernard Herrmann’s score to the now-legendary shower scene, every frame helped shape what we now call the modern horror genre. Critics have ranked it among the greatest films ever made, noting its bold exploration of the human psyche and its influence on generations of filmmakers.
Anthony Perkins in ‘Psycho’ stars as shy motel proprietor Norman Bates.
The Master of Suspense
Sir Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980) directed over fifty films across six decades, becoming one of cinema’s most recognizable and enduring figures. Known as the Master of Suspense, his genius lay in turning everyday fears into unforgettable psychological thrillers. His signature cameo appearances, his dry wit, and his television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents made him a household name.
Anthony Perkins, Alfred Hitchcock & Janet Leigh on Psycho (1960) Set. Credit: Shamley Productions, Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Though he received five nominations for Best Director, Hitchcock never took home an Oscar—a curious omission for a man whose films earned 46 Academy Award nominations in total. Psycho, perhaps more than any other, sealed his reputation as a visionary who saw horror not in monsters or ghosts, but in the fragile, hidden corners of the human mind.
Decades later, Psycho continues to cast its long shadow. The film inspired three sequels, a remake, and even a TV prequel. In 1992, the Library of Congress deemed it “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” and added it to the U.S. National Film Registry.
A file photo dated 13 March 1958 of Alfred Hitchcock who has topped a poll of directors never to have won an Oscar. The British legend received six nominations between 1941 and 1961, for films like Psycho and Rear Window but never walked away with an Academy Award. The poll was conducted by Ipsos, to mark the 77th Academy Awards, whose nominations are being announced on Tuesday 25 January 2005. /EPA
