Film Analysis Psycho - Grade: A PDF

Preview

Summary

A film analysis for the movie Psycho....

Description

Kimberly Rosas The World of Cinema (FA 104) Response Essay 03/05/2019

Psycho

The movie Psycho revolutionized the concept of horror films. The movie’s realism, manipulation of music, and violence made it a great example of what is needed in a horror film. Many people in the 1960’s, during the time in which Psycho  was released, were accustomed to seeing “monsters” as evil characters to be feared. Alfred Hitchcock, the producer of this film, changed this concept by introducing Norman Bates as a serial killer. Now, the evil character to be feared was not a monster but a human. He exhibited everyday situations and dilemmas we face and turned them into a horror film. We were first introduced to Marion Crane. She, like many of us, faced a difficult decision. She was given a $40,000 cash deposit and without hesitation she took the money and ran away. Robbery is a crime that is still on-going. Next, we are introduced to Norman Bates. A hotel owner. A normal job for a not so normal fellow. He suffers from a mental disorder, which can happen to anyone. We are introduced to

everyday situations and problems but with a sick plot twist. The Realism in this film makes it even scarier to watch because this is a type of evil that can occur anywhere and at any time. This leaves us wondering if the monsters to fear could possibly be our next-door neighbors. The music played in this film helped set the mood for this movie. The screeching of the violins implied violence and fear to the viewers. The music gives a most suspenseful feel to the movie. It builds tension, as to intensify certain events. One event impacted by the music was when Marion was running away from town because she stole $40,000 and encountered Bates Motel in a rainy night. Hitchcock’s music helps the audience foreshadow that something bad is about to happen. The next event we see is when Marion is taking a shower and Norman stabs her. The sound of the water running symbolizes how calm she was, how unaware of what was about what was soon to happen, and it signified the cleansing of sin. When Norman opens the curtains, the music quickly changes to an intense sound of a screeching violin, screams, and stabbing sounds. This gets the audience attention. As Marion is left for dead, the music stops to signify the end for her as the water continues running. It is washing away sins. The music played when Arbogast meets the mom depicts curiosity. As he goes inside the house, the music gets louder it builds up to a big reveal. When Norman stabs him, the screeching of the violins play once more to express the intensity of the scene. When the film Psycho  was released, violent acts were not usually portrayed in films. People were not so familiarized with this concept. Thus, the murder of Marion, committed by Norman, in the shower became a famous scene. It was built upon, no one expected the main character to be killed off so soon and unexpectedly, in such a violent manner. Even though the movie was in black and white, the crime was gruesome, nonetheless. The crime scene did not

have to rely on red blood to terrify viewers. The audience’s imagination did the work for them. One murder case was not enough violence for this film. Norman Bates was a serial killer, so murders were a dime-a-dozen. Later in the film, he kills Arbogast in his house. But, the most terrifying use of violence was when Lila finds the corpse of Mrs. Bates’ in the house. This added a terrifying twist to the movie and no monster was needed. With all of this in mind, the movie Psycho r eshaped the structure of horror films. This was accomplished by the film’s realism, the usage of music, and on-screen violence....