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Often called, “the master of suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock was fascinated by the human psyche. The master of suspense, terror, and horror was also deeply compelled by the emerging psychological theories being discovered by early psychologists in the field. Hitchcock’s films represent his curiosity in the works of psychologists like Sigmund Freud, the infamous psychologist credited with discovering the psychoanalytic theory. Hitchcock and Freud shared something in common; both men shared a profound interest in disorder within the human mind. Strangers on a Train, one of Hitchcock’s most famous films, is brimming with Freudian concepts. Unfortunately for Hitchcock, many Freudian concepts Hitchcock used within his films are theories that are denounced
Yet, Hitchock created the character Bruno ahead of the times who fits the description of someone suffering from ASPD to a tee. A diagnosis of ASPD requires three of the following behaviors such as a failure to conform to societal norms, lack of remorse, deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressive behavior, and careless disregard for the safety of others. Sometimes the observable symptoms of ASPD lead to abhorrent or criminal behavior, sometimes it does not. In Bruno Antony’s case, the disorder would lead to the murder of one stranger and the consequential turmoil inflicted on another stranger’s
Harvard and Medical School and APA both point to a chaotic family life as being a key predicter of ASPD. A chaotic family life often includes abuse or neglect. Although it is difficult to discern from the movie, it seems as if Bruno is experiencing turbulent relationships with both his mother and father. Bruno’s relationship with his mother may have Freudians blaming an Oedipus complex, but the sexual undercurrent of their relationship is unsettling and possibly traumatic for Bruno. One may question why Bruno has such an immense hatred for his father since Bruno’s contempt for his father is never explained in the film. Suggesting that Bruno’s father may have been emotionally or physically abusive towards him at some point in his life is not implausible due to Bruno’s absolute abhorrence towards his father. Harvard Medical School also states that people with Antisocial Personality Disorder are more likely to engage in alcohol and substance abuse, which often makes them more
Strangers on a Train is one of Hitchcock’s most well-known films. It is typically analyzed in terms of the ways that the two main male characters interact. According to many film critics, homosexual attraction between Bruno and Guy is one of the premises of the film. This may be the case, however, many of these film critics fail to consider the minor characters of the film: the women. Specifically, they fail to analyze the influence of these women on the development of the male characters and to interpret the message Hitchcock is trying to portray about women, especially those with qualities typically not associated with women.
For my short paper essay assignment, I decided to write about Strangers on a Train, which is a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1951. The story is about two strangers that meet on a train. Those men’s names were Guy Haines and Bruno Anthony. Guy is a professional tennis player and he is married. His wife’s name is Mariam, but he wants a divorce with Mariam because he loves another woman. Bruno Anthony is the other stranger, slightly psychotic, hating his father and wanting to kill him. The movie runs for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Now, in this paper, I will try to analyze Hitchcock’s filming techniques, setting, suspense, camera shots, character plot and theme on this movie.
Through the use of irony, mis en scene and recurring symbols, Hitchcock has reinforced the fundamental idea of duality throughout his film, Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960’s American psychological horror thriller, was one of the most awarded films of its time, proposing contrasting connections between characters, Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, and cinematic/film techniques to develop this idea. Irony identifies contrasts between the dual personalities of Marion Crane and Norman Bates, often foreshadowing the future events of the film. Mis en scene is particularly influential to enforcing the idea of duality, evidently shown through the music and diegetic sounds used. The recurring symbols including the mirrors and specifically the birds, underpin a representation of the character’s dual personalities. Hitchcock’s use of devices reinforces the dual personalities of characters Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.
Alfred Hitchcock’s films not only permanently scar the brains of his viewers but also addict them to his suspense. Hitchcock’s films lure you in like a trap, he tells the audience what the characters don’t know and tortures them with the anticipation of what’s going to happen.
The movie Psycho was created in 1960, and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This film has many meaningful moments behind it, which all lead up to a shocking yet interesting twist for an ending. Many clips corresponded well with Bill Nichols thoughts, and opinions on how “Every movie is a Documentary.” By comparing both the Nichols reading, and the film Psycho, it is easy to see that this film is a wish-fulfillment documentary. This film shows what could be a scary reality in many people’s lives. It gives us examples of what could be our deepest nightmares and dreads, influences an opinion over people who have multiple personalities, and even feeds some people’s interests.
Part of what makes Cooper’s unreliable narration work is the narrative expectations for suspense. Often called “The Master of Suspense,” Hitchcock was known for letting his viewers “play god” by giving them privileged information that the characters on screen don’t have in order to harness the audience's expectations and anticipation. Casetti described this as providing the audience with suspicion, the tools needed to construct a narrative and the motivations of characters (70). Since Cooper and Hitchcock withhold the correct information until near the end of the film they intentionally let viewer build the wrong story and experience a surprise deception. Surprise deceptions, such as the one found in Stage Fright, were not done in the Classic Hollywood Cinema and when paired with traditional models of trust in film open up many layers of exploration into the reaction of the
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo is a film which functions on multiple levels simultaneously. On a literal level it is a mystery-suspense story of a man hoodwinked into acting as an accomplice in a murder, his discovery of the hoax, and the unraveling of the threads of the murder plot. On a psychological level the film traces the twisted, circuitous routes of a psyche burdened down with guilt, desperately searching for an object on which to concentrate its repressed energy. Finally, on an allegorical or figurative level, it is a retelling of the immemorial tale of a man who has lost his love to death and in hope of redeeming her descends into the underworld.
Perhaps no other film changed so drastically Hollywood's perception of the horror film as did PSYCHO. More surprising is the fact that this still unnerving horror classic was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, a filmmaker who never relied upon shock values until this film. Here Hitchcock indulged in nudity, bloodbaths, necrophilia, transvestism, schizophrenia, and a host of other taboos and got away with it, simply because he was Hitchcock.
While Alfred Hitchcock is most well known for causing his audiences to feel fear, there is more to his movies then that. The themes of inadequateness of the police, control of all details in his films, and long stretches of no dialogue are prevalent in several of his films. He does not just happen to do these things by chance, but they are all related to things that happened to him during his childhood and his early career. No one can escape their past and not let it influence at least part of their life, and Alfred Hitchcock was no exception.
Because Alfred Hitchcock implied a great deal in his films, his films may have implied a great deal about himself. If this is true, Alfred Hitchcock had a cryptic way of expressing who he
First, Anti Social Personality Disorder is a mental condition that can cause a person to think and behave in a destructive manner. “Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is characterized by a pattern of socially irresponsible, exploitative, and guiltless behavior. ASPD is associated with co-occurring mental health and addictive disorders and medical comorbidity.” (Black, 2015) People with ASPD have a habit of antagonizing and manipulating others but also have no awareness for what is right and what is wrong. One tends to disregard the feelings and wishes of others. “ASPD typically begins during childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood.” (Kivi, 2012) ASPD usually is noticed around 8 years old, but it is categorized as a conduct disorder. Though children can be treated in what doctors may think is ASPD, children will not be completely diagnosed with the title of ASPD until at least 18 years of age. In time those with ASPD behavior usually end up turning criminal.
Alfred Hitchcock developed his signature style from his earlier works The Lodger and Blackmail. These films were the framework for his signature films later on. His themes of “an innocent man who is accused of a crime” and “the guilty woman” were first seen in these two films and are repeated throughout Hitchcock’s cinematic history
“It is said that analyzing pleasure, or beauty, destroys it” written by artist-historian, Laura Mulvey, she discusses the issues that arise when studying beauty. Examining and focusing on feminine beauty to the point of destroying it, has been a constant theme in cinema for decades. Director, Alfred Hitchcock’s has created 65 films in his 50-year long career, Hitchcock is now a common household name, being one of the most widely influential directors of the 20th century. Nicknamed “The Master of Suspense,” he made a name for himself by his incredible ability to visualize his subconscious fears and desires and turn them into a masterpiece. Throughout Hitchcock’s successful career, his films have a common theme of objectifying women through the
Alfred Hitchcock’s unique sense of filmmaking and directing has allowed him to become a very famous and well known film maker of his time. He uses similar recurring themes, elements, and techniques in many of his films to engage the viewers in more than just the film, but the meaning and focus behind the story.
...are influenced by Although the uneasiness of relationships at the conclusion of Hitchcock’s films is a common theme, it is the deformation of sound and language by Hitchcock that creates the suspense and anxiety that his films are infamous for, allowing the female to become the centre of the discrimination, meaning that its only solution is the pursuit of “human communication”, an ideal that through careful analysis of both films, seems impossible for the female to ascertain.