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Original Psycho

Date: Jun 20 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Chances are, even if you haven’t seen the original Psycho, you’re familiar with its most famous scene. There’s a woman in the shower and a man enters the bathroom with a knife. The shadow of the knife is projected on the shower curtain. The music is a throbbing screech. Suddenly the man opens the curtain and the camera cuts to blood going down the shower drain.

Does this violent scene sound familiar? It’s often recreated in other movies and on TV shows. Until recently, Kevin hadn’t seen the original 1960 version of the film (there have been several versions made since). Listen to him talk to Amanda about it.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Amanda

Kevin: I’m really excited because…So I’m in this film class, Latin American film class, and all…many, many readings I do in the literature reference the original Psycho and I’ve never actually seen the whole thing…

Amanda: Are you kidding?

Kevin: So I got it from Netflix the other day. I’m not kidding. It is amazing. It’s so good. And creepy.

Amanda: I don’t do well with horror flicks because they will go directly into my dreams that night immediately…

Kevin: Um-hm. This one did.

Amanda: And completely ruin my night of sleep so I sometimes wonder why you want to spend two hours watching something like that that’s going to transcend into your dreams when you’re trying to relax.

Kevin: I hear you on that point, but this one is a classic. I mean it is…You know, the shower scene is arguably the most famous scene of any movie. Like, you could argue that. I mean it is…it’s a must see. I was embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t seen it, you know, it’s so well done. And Anthony Perkins is a good-looking gentleman.

Amanda: Absolutely. So what do you think about the remakes. Or the attempted remakes. Vince Vaughn in full color.

Kevin: I’m just not into it. You know, Vince Vaughn shouldn’t be in that kind of movie.

Amanda: Because he’s no Anthony Perkins, correct?

Kevin: That’s right.

Amanda: One day you should come over and we can reenact that shower scene.

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Discussion

Kevin is taking a film course in which Psycho seems to come up a lot. It’s a movie most people have seen, so it’s a little strange that Kevin hadn’t watched the whole thing yet. He decided to order it from Netflix, an online movie rental service. It was really creepy, but he really liked it.

Amanda says that she doesn’t really care for horror movies because whenever she watches one, she dreams about it that night. Kevin says that that happens to him too but that Psycho is so good it doesn’t matter. The scene of the murder in the shower might be the most famous scene of any movie ever made. He also says that the movie’s star, Anthony Perkins, is a good looking actor.

Amanda asks if Kevin likes the newer remakes of Psycho, like the one made in 1999. Kevin says he doesn’t like the new version because Vaughn isn’t as good in the movie as Perkins is.

Then Amanda says something very strange. She asks Kevin to come over and reenact the shower scene with her. Your guess is as good as ours.

When you watch scary movies do you dream about them? If so, is it worth it sometimes?

Comments

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Ahshan

China

hehe! chinese scene is good for making flicks!

Ahshan

China

definitely, i do not like to watch creepy flicks all times! once in a while i would like to see the comedy films ,or action movies! i see them just for relaxing !

my secret identity

Czech Republic

I think psycho (or psycho-horrors) is better than "trivial" horrors. I don't must see litres of blood. Then I'm not afraid but only disgusted. I like psycho (or psycho-horrors) because it's more mysterious… when horror has a good idea I'll like seeing it…:-)

I forget my dreams every mornig – thats why I don't know I've ever dreamed about it or not.. but I've never woken up and been afraid.

When I'm watching scary movies I'm not afraid. But I've never watched any film alone… That's maybe the reason:D.

lenchen92

Germany

I really like horror movies and I often watch it alone or with friends. But I have never a bad dream of it .

nonsence

Malaysia

hoo…hooo..if im a ghost..do u feel any pyscho?

Monday

China

i have been seen lots of horror movies ,which maked by china ,thailand ,japan,Corea ,the occident and so on .

in fact ,i don't like horror movies .just because i saw many movie,which including it

and ,now the horror movies has no good innovation just blood ..blood…blood….by the way ,i like <psych> ,shawn is very very clever

okunsboy

Nigeria

hello wht up

nonsence

Malaysia

so people here scared of ghosts

???

nonsence

Malaysia

horror story is just a story ,gang

nonsence

Malaysia

i think im suffered from psikosis

shanie

China

hotsepa, some of my friends have some point with u , in fact ,recently i have a liitle fear to see that alone , i can not find the feeling as usual …maybe that really because of the stressfull as u said , i just haven't realize that

hotstepa

Philippines

i love horror movies before when i was a teener.. but as i grew older im starting to hate the genre. maybe its because of my stressfull daily routines. i dont want to see movies thats disturbing and stressfull to watch.

somaliland

Somalia

really it quite fit for us as a student whom learn this language

shanie

China

i like psycho suspense movie , that 's intersting .the whole play in fact is improving ur guess is right or wrong .it feel very cool if all the ppl together scared to shout . i like that feeling!

valentino

Indonesia

I never watch "Psycho" but I really want to have that Classic DVD…Alfred Hitchcock is a brilliant director and his movie always good. Psycho is the best of all his movies. I love horror movies with twist ending story. It surprised me in the end. I really enjoyed it.

annetka

Ukraine

sometimes horror movies is so predictable and looks like comedy. don't like this films

ozan29

Turkey

I like that films,they make me energetic.

marly2ramos

Philippines

I saw this movie long time ago in tv. I hate the character of the Mother… and its really scary movie!!

marly2ramos

Philippines

I just notice that in almost psycho suspense movies,,,, there is always a character of a Mother , terror or bad Mother who is always the reason why their son or daughter became a pschotic….. is there anybody notice that?