Psycho Essay

Film Critique:

Hitchcock’s superb ground-breaking thriller Psycho (1960), has inspired almost three generations of film through its unique, pioneering, methods of music, cinematography, acting, lighting and prop/setting. As like many other classic film Psycho (1960) changes the way film makers and the audience view the film and and has a lasting impact on the film industry especially in regards to dogma surrounding violence and nudity during that era. Psycho (1960) is a fundamental classic as it uses these usual mediums in totally new, revolutionary forms, as well as implementing ulterior meaning into every element of the films’ composition rather than simply using props etc. as the backdrop of the story. This article hopes to analyse key mise-en-scene elements within various scenes throughout

Of the many infamous Hitchcock film masterpieces, the classic thriller Psycho (1960), is one of his most endearing and memorable works that includes many mise-en-scene elements such as lighting, acting, props and setting, shot composition and music. During the one of the final chilling scenes Lila Crane, discovers the corpse of ‘mother’ before turning to witness Norman dressed as his mother preparing to kill her. During this memorable shot Norman is tackled just in time by Sam, as he is forced to the ground the actor playing Norman (Anthony Perkins) lets out a womanly shriek whilst also acting as though weak and elderly when tackled. The use of this shriek and lack of self-defence illustrates the extent of Norman’s dissociative personality disorder as well as to overwhelm and shock the audience. Other than the never-before-used psychological horror of Psycho (1960), the use of swinging light also contributes to the lasting impact Psycho (1960) leaves on the