Psycho (1960, Dir. Alfred Hitchcock) is a psychological horror film, adapted from novel format for the screen. Psycho is regarded as a father [interesting word choice - would mother not be more appropo] of the Slasher Flick genre, establishing what could be shown to the general public in terms of sexuality and gore. Hitchcock employed film techniques previously unheard of, and set a new precedent for visual horror.
Hitchcock demonstrates the main theme of voyeurism in the very first shot [nice], where we are introduced to our setting and immediately squirm our way through the half-closed curtain to meet our main actress and her lover. Although we knew we were watching a movie, the viewer can’t help but feel as if they shouldn’t be seeing this. The morbid urge to spy is fulfilled all throughout the film, with intimate close ups and scandalous visuals. SPOILER ALERT!!! One scene with the same peeping-tom nature is after the parlor scene, where Norman Bates watches Marion Crane undress through a hole in the wall. Not only are we watching someone without their consent, but the unbelievably close shot Hitchcock uses here on Norman’s eye makes us a voyeur of a voyeur, filled with suspense, unable to stop watching and reveling in the social perversion. Hitchcock mirrors this effect with the close up of Marion’s eye after her death [YES!!!]
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Subtle symbolism throughout the movie hits its most blatant in the parlor scene. Bates says that Marion eats like a bird as she’s framed by songbirds and sparrows in a medium shot. For most of the dialogue, Bates is partnered with larger, but gentle stuffed birds in a medium shot as well. However, when Marion angers Bates, we are presented with a low angle shot where he is backed by birds of prey, wingspan displayed and imposing [Hitchcock's next film was The Birds]. The low angle makes us feel smaller than Bates, and the owls behind him introduces us to his predatory nature. (Our director seems to think that birds very solidly belong in horror, wonder what that tells us about him?)
Themes of voyeurism and Norman's twisted mentality come to fruition in the most iconic scene, the shower scene. [I feel as though this single sentence posing as a paragraph is a tease]
- Amber Ventura (Do not forget to check behind your shower curtain [nice touch].)
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