Considered the mother of all modern horror films, Psycho is Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 chilling, psychological thriller. It is believed that all modern ‘slasher’ films were born single-handedly from this film. The film is based on a novel, written by Robert Bloch, which revolved around a real life murderer in Wisconsin, who was arrested for taking people’s bodies apart. The part that took most people aback were the fact that there was intact two plot twists, one, being Marion being killed, the next, that the murderer who looks like a woman is actually a man. This exploration of gender also shocked the audiences, as at this time is was looked down upon for men to dress as women.
The film is most famous for the shower scene, which is reenacted in many films after it’s time.The idea of being wrongly accused is played with in this scene, as it is after Marion, a thief, has given back the money she has stolen, in order to suffer the consequences. She knows that she is wrong, and accepts that there will be consequences of her actions. But, before Marion can be incarcerated, she is killed by woman (or so we are led to think). This idea of being accused of something that you’ve already put right reflects Hitchcock’s childhood, as this was a regular occurrence. I think that this really moulded Hitchcock as a person, hence why this is being tackled in many of his films.
Although that we do not actually see the knife being plummeted into Marion’s skin, it is suggested. We know that it happens, but Hitchcock leaves it to the audience’s imagination. This makes it more horrific for the audience, as we begin to imagine the blood and gore. Imagination is much worse than reality. The whole scene is played through in the killer’s point of view, which again shows Hitchcock’s ability to manipulate the audience. We feel guilty for Marion’s death, as we are put in the place of the killer itself, and we cannot stop it. The use of camera angles, quick paced editing, different shots and the juxtaposition of these enhances this experience for the viewer, as Hitchcock not only manipulates the viewer, but the film structure and language too.
The shower scene also explores the female, as a gender. Marion is a pretty and petite woman, who appears to be friendly. But she is a thief, and thieves must be punished, but then she hands back the money and accepts that she has done wrong. She is alone in the shower, and naked, so she appears extremely vulnerable. Although the killer seems to be a woman but is a man, we know that Marion will not be able to stand against a man attacking her from nowhere.
Looking at one of the most historically famous horror films has been very beneficial to my work. Although I am not looking at making a horror, I am looking at making a dark thriller, which explores the human psyche. It is good to watch a wide range of films when analysing film, because it expands your knowledge extensively.
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