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Alfred Hitchcock's Film Psycho

Decent Essays

The 1960 the film “Psycho” directed Alfred Hitchcock, which was adapted from
Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel of the same name. It drew inspiration from real life serial killer
Ed Gein, and is about a man named Norman Bates, who runs a motel owned by his family.
In the story, Bates is a victim of his sickly mother’s love. His mother becomes violent when
Norman begins to pay less attention to her/her needs. The story is told from three points of view, and leads down a trail of misdirection, embezzlement, and violence. The study of character, storytelling, and suspense in the film are all fantastic and help solidify it as a classic. “Psycho” has a unique presentation, point of view, and artfully directed camerawork. “Psycho” is incredible in the way that it did its utmost best to …show more content…

Another fantastic shot is the angle that pans out from Marion Crane’s eye, moves on to focus on money, then finishes its course by moving up the house where we get in on the fun of eavesdropping on the conversation between Norman and his mother. Both of these scenes leave a very awe-inspired reaction. If that weren’t enough, Norman Bates is often shot from a low angle, which gives him that same chilling aura as the house. This only serves to add to the already imposing depiction the film gives of Bates and his family.
Many of the ideas and visual techniques expressed here are merely interpretations, but isn’t that what filmmaking is about? Every person is liable to create their own conclusions from what they see or read; it’s generally agreed upon that what an audience takes from a piece of art is more important and true than what the original intention was anyways. But I digress, as a wonderful filmmaker such as Hitchcock allows for the audience to create those interpretations, and “Psycho” is no exception. When watching this movie again for the purpose of writing this paper, I came to appreciate all of its

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