English and Art Departments host Halloween Screening of Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’

By: Steven Bianco
Posted In: News

Halloween: a time for costumes, eerie superstition, buckets of candy and most of all- classic horror films.

As the days draw nearer to trick-or-treating time, word has slowly circulated through campus about the showing Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” sponsored by the Departments of English and Art.

The screening of “Psycho” is on Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the DiStefano Lecture Hall. All students are encouraged to come, hang out with friends, put on insane costumes and enjoy the screaming.

“We try to, every year to start some sort teaming up of academic departments to do something during Halloween for students,” said Dr. Matthew Ramsey, assistant professor of English. “We also use such events as recruiting tools for students interested in English majors and minors.”

Ramsey hopes for an exceptional turnout this year, looking at the English Department’s successful showing of Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” last fall.

According to the Internet Movie Database, the film at first centers on a young woman by the name of Marion Crane who steals $40,000 in cash from her employer in Phoenix, Ariz. and flees town After driving for hours, Crane reaches the isolated “Bates Motel” where she decides to spend the night. There, she makes the acquaintance of the hotel’s caretaker, a quiet but strange Norman Bates. Feeling relaxed and safe from harm, Crane settles in and chooses to take a soothing shower. Little does she know however, her journey to freedom is about to be cut short as a man’s growing psychosis is destined to bring about her demise.

Aside from envisioning the memorable “shower scene,” fit with terrifying violin strains and shrieking, many nowadays don’t think of where “Psycho” stands in the history of film. Besides other great films directed by the infamous British director Alfred Hitchcock, including “Vertigo” (1958) and “North by Northwest” (1959), “Psycho” (1960) stands out as one of the first psychological murder thrillers to gain major acclaim.

“It’s the first film that really kind of gives you a template for a slasher film” said Ramsey, comparing “Psycho” with other terror flicks of the era.

Not only will the English Department’s showing of “Psycho” hopefully help students in deciding whether or not they may want to take up an English major or minor, but it also aims at helping the Newport community through charity.

“Students are expected to either bring a can donation or wear a costume in order to see the film,” Ramsey said.

Upon hearing of the event, Salve English literature Minor Jacqueline Lawler expressed interest in attending. “I think it’s really great, particularly with Salve doing a really great job in helping the community this year,” Lawler said.

On the film “Psycho” itself, Lawler said “it’s good that they’re showing the staples.”

During the showing, prizes will be given out for best costume and best “Hitchcock-related costume.” When asked why students should come to see the movie, Ramsey said, “If some students haven’t seen “Psycho,” it’s one you want to see before you die.”