To What Extent Is ‘Psycho’ A Typical Thriller?
Thriller films can be split into many subgenres. However, all of these subgenres would include the codes and conventions that make them, noticeably, a thriller film. Codes and conventions for this genre typically include quick cuts between frames, the quicker the cut the more action is going to be happening on screen and more of an atmosphere is made. Camera angles also help make the genre what it is, by switching between high, low and ordinary angles the audience is able to recognise what is going to happen within the film. The music that the film uses to create tension is a clear signal of a thriller film and the music is always made up of stringed instruments. The lighting within a typical thriller is usually dark and contrasting, half bright and half shadows. The use of shadows is a strong theme within the thriller genre, so is the use of mirrors, corridors and staircases to create a tense atmosphere or help build up to a key sequence within the scene.
The thriller genre is completely separate from the ‘horror’ genre even though they are often confused with one another. The horror genre uses a lot of gore and the violence within the films is substantially greater than within thriller films. Thriller films focus on giving the audience a sense of tension, to build up to the action rather than have it all there straight away. The focus of a thriller film is specifically that; to thrill the viewer, to make them scared using psychological techniques. A psychological thriller is a subgenre within the main genre. There are many other subgenres within thriller including; disaster thrillers, crime thrillers, supernatural thrillers and horror thrillers.
One of the most famous horror thrillers is Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’. It shows all the codes and conventions of a successful thriller film and from start to finish follows a stable plot line. There is, however, a twist. Like many thriller films, what is laid out in front of the audience isn’t always what it appears to be. The title sequence of ‘Psycho’ is the first clue we get as to what the film is going to be like. The music that introduces us to the film is the same string section that is used when tension is trying to be built up. The simple black and white text that is used doesn't give us a distraction which means that the music is able to hold our attention. The bars that are used to bring in and take out the credits could be hinting towards the disorientation of the mind that is evident in the film.
Psycho is a good example of a thriller film that plays with our expectations of what is meant to be, in real life. The policeman within the film appears to be edgy and suspicious. This distorts the way in which we, as typical people, think of police officers; as a figure of authority and reason. The camera angles and the editing helps to add to this effect. The panning movements of the camera make it seem like he's watching the woman (main character) and the sharp cuts between these long scenes to build the tension even more. He also follows her in his car which is another typical trait of a thriller film as well. It helps to build up the plot and is another way of building up the tension of the scene. By disorientating our senses the films makes the audience edgy, at which point they try to predict what is going to happen in order to make themselves feel comfortable again.
The main, and most famous scene of the whole film is quite early. This seems to be a trend within thriller films. For example, in 'Scream' the “worst” part of the film is right at the beginning. The shower scene is the most iconic scene in thriller history and many films have copied elements of it since. The stringed music plays a great part in the build up of tension; as do the camera angles. The scene uses a high up angle on the woman's naked shoulders. This makes the main female character appear vulnerable to the audience. The silhouette that can be seen on the outside of the curtain gives a huge boost to the build up of the scene and makes us able to guess what is going to happen. Sharp, fast cuts are used within this scene from all angles. This makes the action seem more intense and the tension is brought to it's peek. Even though the knife doesn't actually make contact with the woman's skin the fast cuts that are done in editing mean that this isn't important, the effect is all in the editing.
Psycho is a genre defining film. It was made in the 1960's and films even today are using it as a source of influence. For example, 'No Country For Old Men' uses a scene that is shot from a high angle, looking down on a sink where the murderer is washing his hands. This scene was also used within Psycho and is just one of the many examples of modern thrillers using Alfred Hitchcock's influences.
After studying Psycho in detail, I have come to the conclusion that it is definitely a typical thriller film and one that has paved the way for modern thriller films. It contains all the codes and conventions of a typical thriller and definitely thrills the audience.
Thriller films can be split into many subgenres. However, all of these subgenres would include the codes and conventions that make them, noticeably, a thriller film. Codes and conventions for this genre typically include quick cuts between frames, the quicker the cut the more action is going to be happening on screen and more of an atmosphere is made. Camera angles also help make the genre what it is, by switching between high, low and ordinary angles the audience is able to recognise what is going to happen within the film. The music that the film uses to create tension is a clear signal of a thriller film and the music is always made up of stringed instruments. The lighting within a typical thriller is usually dark and contrasting, half bright and half shadows. The use of shadows is a strong theme within the thriller genre, so is the use of mirrors, corridors and staircases to create a tense atmosphere or help build up to a key sequence within the scene.
The thriller genre is completely separate from the ‘horror’ genre even though they are often confused with one another. The horror genre uses a lot of gore and the violence within the films is substantially greater than within thriller films. Thriller films focus on giving the audience a sense of tension, to build up to the action rather than have it all there straight away. The focus of a thriller film is specifically that; to thrill the viewer, to make them scared using psychological techniques. A psychological thriller is a subgenre within the main genre. There are many other subgenres within thriller including; disaster thrillers, crime thrillers, supernatural thrillers and horror thrillers.
One of the most famous horror thrillers is Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’. It shows all the codes and conventions of a successful thriller film and from start to finish follows a stable plot line. There is, however, a twist. Like many thriller films, what is laid out in front of the audience isn’t always what it appears to be. The title sequence of ‘Psycho’ is the first clue we get as to what the film is going to be like. The music that introduces us to the film is the same string section that is used when tension is trying to be built up. The simple black and white text that is used doesn't give us a distraction which means that the music is able to hold our attention. The bars that are used to bring in and take out the credits could be hinting towards the disorientation of the mind that is evident in the film.
Psycho is a good example of a thriller film that plays with our expectations of what is meant to be, in real life. The policeman within the film appears to be edgy and suspicious. This distorts the way in which we, as typical people, think of police officers; as a figure of authority and reason. The camera angles and the editing helps to add to this effect. The panning movements of the camera make it seem like he's watching the woman (main character) and the sharp cuts between these long scenes to build the tension even more. He also follows her in his car which is another typical trait of a thriller film as well. It helps to build up the plot and is another way of building up the tension of the scene. By disorientating our senses the films makes the audience edgy, at which point they try to predict what is going to happen in order to make themselves feel comfortable again.
The main, and most famous scene of the whole film is quite early. This seems to be a trend within thriller films. For example, in 'Scream' the “worst” part of the film is right at the beginning. The shower scene is the most iconic scene in thriller history and many films have copied elements of it since. The stringed music plays a great part in the build up of tension; as do the camera angles. The scene uses a high up angle on the woman's naked shoulders. This makes the main female character appear vulnerable to the audience. The silhouette that can be seen on the outside of the curtain gives a huge boost to the build up of the scene and makes us able to guess what is going to happen. Sharp, fast cuts are used within this scene from all angles. This makes the action seem more intense and the tension is brought to it's peek. Even though the knife doesn't actually make contact with the woman's skin the fast cuts that are done in editing mean that this isn't important, the effect is all in the editing.
Psycho is a genre defining film. It was made in the 1960's and films even today are using it as a source of influence. For example, 'No Country For Old Men' uses a scene that is shot from a high angle, looking down on a sink where the murderer is washing his hands. This scene was also used within Psycho and is just one of the many examples of modern thrillers using Alfred Hitchcock's influences.
After studying Psycho in detail, I have come to the conclusion that it is definitely a typical thriller film and one that has paved the way for modern thriller films. It contains all the codes and conventions of a typical thriller and definitely thrills the audience.
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