Film Studies
- The technique that was used by the director of the film to coordinate the foreground and background elements gave a feeling of anticipation. This was mostly viewed when the background sound was used to prepare the audience for a certain action. An example is the female shadow was approaching to commit a murder.
- The subjects on the side of the image relate in the sense that they have been used to depict the past offences that were misunderstood. For instance, when Norman found Marion dead, he thought it was the mother who committed the crime yet it was the female shadow.
- The subjects in the film have been presented to be apart in the sense that they do not have a clear understanding of what is happening. It would have been expected that Norman knows the female shadow behind the killings in the house but we realize that this are different actions happening yet the owners do not understand.
- The object of great significance in the movie is the female shadow; he draws such attention using a particular sound that is aimed at sensitizing the audience about the appearance of the shadow. The subjects have been used to create a balance and clear any doubts about a happening (Hitchcock 1960). This has been displayed in the scenario where in Norman’s house, there is a female shadow that kills people and at the same time, there is a female, mother, who takes all the blame for the murders.
Lightening
- Psycho is a film that is filled with many horrific events. These have been clearly brought up by the use of different shades of light. For instance, there we notice a change in lightening when the scene involves intense horror or tranquility. When there is a darker scene, the audience know that something tragic is about to happen.
- When it comes to defining the source of the light, it is rather obvious for us to know that it is artificial since it is a movie. However, it has been presented in a way that it appears naturally. The film has presented a good coordination of different shades of light with events that happen in the film.
- The lighting itself creates an emotion of happiness and sadness. When there is a dimmer light, then the emotion of the film switches to sadness and vice versa. This has been well coordinated with the sounds.
Use of camera
- The camera has been used to communicate more about the setting of the film and the emphasis of the director on a particular scene. For instance, when the scene moves from the city to a residential home, the camera will show more of the street movement heading to a residential place. From here, this is when the camera will focus on a particular character that the film is currently revolving around.
- The lenses that have been used in the film are wide angle and telephoto. These have been used to make the film appear more real and to hide some of the camera tricks used in the movie (Hitchcock 1960).
- There are different angles chosen to film the subjects, this is based on the scene and the plot that the movie takes. There is a closer eye view when the scene is directed to a particular subject and further when the scene concentrates on wider subjects. The angles are significant especially in preparing the audience for the next scene. This also gives the film an emotional effect, which is vital in connecting the audience to the scenes.
- The expressive use of camera on specific shots tells more about the emphasis that director had on certain scenes. This made my viewing experience dramatic and interesting. This is often used when the director highlights on the events around the main character.
- There is a specific message that he wanted to bring across which is also revealed through the camera placement.
- The director has used the camera to either engage or disengage the audience. There are times when the audience feels like an outsider especially when the camera moves to change the plot and scene of the movie. This completely disengages the audience as they eagerly wait for the next scene.
- There is a clear message that the director gives to the audience while using the camera. This has also been done with the intention of giving the audience a break especially after displaying a horrific scene. The camera will be tilted to other scenes and are stuck when the director feels that the audience needs to concentrate on a particular scene.
- Through the camera movement, the audience will know when they have to take a break and wait for another scene.
Cinematic point of view
- The film has presented a number of scenes that makes the audience to either take the passive or active position. There are scenes, especially after the female shadow has just attacked and killed a character and other subjects seem not to understand what is happening. This is when as an audience feels like they are in the action and feel the need of telling the real characters whom the culprit is. Such a connection makes the audience feel so sorry and sad at the situation which they feel will not be solved until when the truth they know is revealed (Hitchcock 1960). There are moments of disconnection when the film revolves around general sceneries and not concentrating on a specific subject or character.
- The visual techniques used by the director played a major role in interpreting some of the symbols used. For instance, the characters in the film seem not to know who the female shadow is but the visual expression of them having to suspect a female to be behind the act tells the audience that there is a connection between the murders and the mother.
Evaluation
In my view, the director’s choice of sound, light and camera angles makes it easy for the audience to predict the next scene. For instance, when the audience hears a certain background tune and light shading, it quickly clicks into their minds that something horrible is a bout to happen. This therefore prepares them psychologically by drawing their attention on what exactly will happen. The director also used cinematographic techniques to give the audience some time to break off from a horrific scene. This is done by quickly changing the scene and changing the plot just to help the audience sit back and reflect on what happened. These are important a technique that not only creates suspense but also make the audience long for another scene. During the break, one is allowed time to guess what will happen next and stay glued to the scene to see the predictions coming as expected or otherwise.
Works cited
Hitchcock, Alfred. PSYCHO (1960) (film)
