Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most studied directors worthy of a close look. Psycho is his most successful film garnering four Academy Nominations including best director. The film has mature content (shower scene with no direct nudity shots, two knife murders with no explicit depiction of the murders, and an implied afternoon trist). The film illustrates the concept of motif and symbolism, the method of creating suspense, and the art of sharp dialog. The script and storyboard are easily accessible. The film includes several scenes that make a good exercises in mise-en-scene analysis.