Analysis Of The Film Psycho

I chose to view the Film Psycho (1960) by Alfred Hitchcock for this assignment, and after reading a bit more history I can see how he changed the filming industry. One famous quote by Hitchcock states “there is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it” and this film was the premiere example of it. As a casual viewer, I feel that the film left me wanting more in some ways and less in others. I feel like the talking scenes were of very dialogue heavy and then in the very next scene there would be 2-3 minutes without any speaking. If the film could have had better flow I would have enjoyed it much more but in my opinion, while the film was innovative and cutting edge in 1960, I did not enjoy it. Hitchcock did a small cameo in

One of the most interesting scenes took place in the parlor while Lila is eating her sandwich. She suggests to Norman that he put his mother into an institution if his mother gave him so much grief. At this point, the camera turns to Norman at a side angle and he leans forward in his chair. He looks as if he could leap out of his chair at any moment and kill Lila for the suggestion. Although Norman is not looking directly at the camera the viewer feels as though he is looking directly into their eyes and you find yourself immersed in the setting. The outstretched owl in the background represents how norman must be feeling at such an insult however he as able to control his aggression for a time. In converse when he is happy and sitting back in his chair there is a black crow in the background that seems to be at rest. During these times, the crow signifies that there is a dark feeling but there is no need to worry. The second memorable moment occurs during the final scenes of the film. While he looks like a normal man sitting in a chair we begin to hear his mother voice in an overtone. But the small facial changes and mannerisms begin to change as she speaks. He begins making his face wrinkled and he looks down appearing weak and frail and before the viewer realizes it seems like an old woman is sitting in her rocking chair telling a story of how her son disappointed her.

I assumed since we followed Lila’s’ story for 45 minutes that she was the main character and when she was killed I was lost. I kept trying to find out if the mothers story and when we were told that she had been dead for over ten years I assumed she had faked her death because she killed her husband. Norman gave off so many nonverbal signs that he was sad and angry at the mother when he went to make Lila sandwiches but when he nonchalantly cleaned up all of the blood from Lilia’s death it sent very mixed signals. I think they should have made it a bit clearer that the mother was dead and that Norman was the killer. Then they could have focused more on the events that took place to kill her and less time confusing the audience. Finally, I do not understand the strange cop that was in the movie around the 30-minute mark. The movie never finished the loop. In my opinion, the private investigator should have met up with the police officer in some way to complete the