Suspense and Tension in film Psycho

Suspense and Tension in film Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock 1960 horror film ´Psycho` is one of the most

celebrated and scary films of its time. Hitchcock’s psychological

thriller, psycho was and still is the mother of all modern day

horrors. It cost Hitchcock around $800,000 to make the film. Psycho

broke all film conventions by showing a leading lady having a lunch

time affair in her underwear and also in the shower scene it was

rejected on the grounds of nudity but was later with no alterations

was accepted. The film stars Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, Janet

Leigh and Marion Crane and Vera Miles as Lila crane.

Psycho differs from other horrors because the audience starts off

identifying with the main character we are shown what her life is

about, her job, her boy friend and just her life in general. When

Marion takes $40,000, instead of the audience disliking her because

she has committed a crime they understand why she did it after all it

is from a arrogant, snobby millionaire when he is talking to Marion’s

boss he says ‘I never carry as much as I can afford to lose.’ So when

she takes the money we don’t feel sorry for him at all. But when she

is killed then we start to identify with Norman Bates. The audience is

tricked in thinking that they will be following Marion thought the

film but they are wrong, this is known as Maguffin of a red herring.

Hichcock uses many different devices to create tension and suspense,

for example camera angle, lighting, music and red herrings all of

these components make up psycho, without them the film just wouldn’t

be as good or effected. One of the first examples of first person

camera angles i...

... middle of paper ...

...he black and white look doesn’t let then get to close. Also

Hitchcock was a master of using light, he could make a character stand

out more then the rest or blend in with the rest. If the film was in

colour it wouldn’t be as effective.

I think Hitchcock was a master at what he did and creating suspense

and tension, he knew exactly when to get the audience on the edge of

their seats and when to relax them. He was also a master at using

certain devices like camera angles, lighting, music and sound, with

every sot he took all of these components into account. I really

enjoyed watching the film, I wasn’t tense or in suspense as such, but

I can imagine what effect it had in people in the 1960 and why the

film was such a big hit. In my option I would give the film a 9/10

overall. And would recommend anyone go and watch it.