'Psycho' is a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it is based on a man called Norman Bates who has a split personality and is possessed.
Marking Draft-Psycho
‘Psycho’ is a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it is based on a man called Norman Bates who has a split personality and is possessed.
Norman is possessed because his mother died and he tries to act like his
Mother. Norman kills two people because of this. The director manipulates his audience very well.
Hitchcock creates a dramatic atmosphere by making the background music to
Match what is going to happen. For example when someone is about to be stabbed, the spine-chilling music sounds.
The atmosphere is very scary and in some rooms they have stuffed birds of prey on the wall. The cameras are often lowered to make things appear bigger, like the exterior of the Bates house, which is, filmed very low down to make it Appear much bigger and more intimidating. The colour is black and white meaning it's an old movie.
I will explore the creation of atmosphere, tension and shock by looking at three sequences in the film.
Most of the dramatic events take place in the Bates Motel and Bates House.
Hitchcock creates atmosphere in the shower sequence by putting so many Camera positions into the sequence. When Marian Crane goes in the shower she takes off all her clothes making herself very vulnerable. Hitchcock deliberately made her do this to create tension as the audience can predict she will get Attacked. She then washes away her guilt; she decided to give the money back to her employer. Then you see a dark shadowy figure appearing behind the curtains. Hitchcock did this to create further tension as the audience want to know who is behind the curtain. the figure behind the curtain then gets raises his arm with a knife , Which makes the audience know what will happen, so it makes the audience expect to see her die. After that, really terrifying music plays creating excitement within the audience. The man then slashes with the knife, which makes Marian scream causing shock in the audience. At this point the audience are brought to the attention of the movie. You then see Marians hand slipping down to the bottom of the shower.
