Using Psycho as the example, someone please explain the noir criteria? I am not sold on it being in the category.

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[Mike Bayer]

Good question, Kevin. And I’d be very interested in others’ perspectives. For me, “Psycho” is the ultimate pivot film that perfectly transitions from film noir into the emergent slasher genre that would really take off in the 1970’s. Aesthetically and tonally, the film’s extremely noir in my view, and even if the psychosexual thrills might push the boundaries of noir, many people forget that the plot’s entire premise is criminal in that Janet Leigh’s character has stolen money and is running from the law, which is the whole reason the unfortunate detective shows up, so it has a more traditional criminal element too.

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