Alfred Hitchcocks Elements Of Suspense In Psychodo

‘Busayo Oladipupo Professor K. Lyon Cinema 101 – 01 Dec 13th, 2017. Final Paper Alfred Hitchcock was a renowned film director known for his elements of suspense and psychological thrillers. His most popular work psycho uses the story of a phoenix secretary (Marion Crane) who embezzled money from a client to unveil the psycho in the male character (Norman Bates). The success of the film is greatly relied on Hitchcock’s unique techniques in creating tension and suspense. Elements that contributed to the success of the film include motifs and parallels, and perspective used. The most prominent motifs in psycho are birds, eyes and mirrors. Hitchcock uses birds to support the theme of duality in the film. In one critical scene where Norman†¦show more content†¦These instances lead to eyes taking significance in the film, and implicates the audience on the note that the film is showing what should not be seen. Unlike Norman’s other victims that were not detailed, Mrs. Bates and Marion’s eyes depict a watchful one that threatens Norman therefore leading to their deaths. Mirrors were also used throughout the film to enhance the theme of duality. After Marion stole the money, Hitchcock recurrently compares her with her reflection (like in the used car lot), even though she rarely looks at it. Marions refusal to look at own reflection in the mirror underscores that she is going to keep going in the path that she has chosen and not look back. Marions denial of her reflection led her to the Bates Motel where she met with her death. The shift in narration of Psycho has been a topic worth discussing in the world of film making. Most films employ a system of restricted narration, which conveys external events as well as the knowledge, thoughts and feelings of one or two major characters without the intervention of an explicit narrator. But there is a significant shift of narration from restricted to omniscient that Hitchcock used to keep the audience engaged with the film. The early scenes and exposition of the film is focused on Marion. The audience see things from the perspective of Marion – her theft, her relationships as an employee and as a woman. Different point of view shots highlights that the film is focused on Marion’s