‘Psycho’- 1960, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
‘Marion Crane’s sister and secret lover try to find Marion’s whereabouts after disappearing following her brutal death at Bates’ Motel’
Exposition
1. Exposition is establishing the story, the main characters, setting and themes of the film
2. The role of exposition is to inform the viewer on the hero or protagonist, the directing style and what type or genre of film you are going to watch
3. The opening is slow, with panning shots that establish the setting, almost like a bird looming over the city. The opening credits have opposing colours, black and white. This represents the opposites of good and bad, each colour representing both. This informs us of the conflict of the story and shows that there will be conflict between good and evil. The music is also tense with the violins, matching with the violins that screech at Marion Crane’s death.
4. The establishing shot is a wide pan across the city. The context of date and time makes the story grounded in reality, perhaps telling us that this story is based on a true story. 2:40pm shows us that work is nearly finished.
5.
The opening scene shows us Marion Crane in white, making us think he’s the protagonist. The boyfriend is having an affair, which back then, was very scandalous, showing us that Marion is not the best of moral characters.
Epilogue
1. The connection of all the loose points made in the point and finishing the message shown throughout the film
2. The role of the epilogue in film is to drive home the messages of the film
3. Internal conflict is conflict inside of a person and their thoughts or personality/ies
4. Self arguments or inner thoughts of the character
5. The epilogue in Psycho of Norman Bates is a slow zoom in with no cuts and it dissolves to Marion’s car being dragged up with Norman’s mother’s face superimposed over Norman’s for a second.
Turning Point
1. A moment the plot evolves, devolves or changes in narrative or theme
2. It kills what is inherently the main character, a bankable actress that, when going into the theatre, would have been seen as the character that would definitely live
3. External conflict is when outside forces from a character or thing, including other people, nature or other elements
4. The conflict is shown in the shower scene as quickly cut and cross cut, showing the jarring and unprepared nature of the gruesome death
5. The shower scene was a significant turning point as it is a disruption in the equilibrium. This was the character we were most acquainted with and one we were rooting for. This scene makes the film divert and makes us care about Norman, hoping he gets away with his mother’s murder and the next scene introducing us to the next protagonists for the film, Marion’s sister and Marion’s lover.
Characterisation
1. Marion Crane is a woman that starts off with seeing the good within someone. She sees that her lover is not a sinner, even though divorcees would be seen as such. She tries her best to do the right thing, even with stealing the cash, she is stealing it to help her lover get out of his personal turmoil. As flawed her decision making is, she has good intentions.
2. Marion is shown in a scandalous way as she is shown in bed with another man. She is the first person to be shown in close up, making the viewer connect with her, showing us she is the presumed protagonist. As the movie progresses and she steals the money and leaves, we see her inner thoughts, her paranoia consuming her and making her forever look over her shoulder. Also in the beginning, she is shown with white clothing, representing her will to be good or a ‘hero’. In the scene where she decides to take the money and pack, she wears black clothing, showing her consumption by evil.
3. Norman Bates is presented as a lonely, small town manchild. He is almost polar opposite to Marion’s lover, being small, thin and having a shallow voice.
4. Norman is shown in the rain following Marion’s detour off the highway. He is shown in shadow, under the moonlight, much like how an antagonist will be shown if presented. He is also never shown in close ups for the whole of the introductory scene, showing us that he is not very important and to focus on Marion, perhaps showing us that Marion does not care about Norman either.
5. Marion Crane is inherently good as she is the person the audience is rooting for. Norman is seen as a nosy person that could stop Marion from getting away with her crime, making him the antagonist.
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