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| Reflection of Norman's mother in Psycho (1960) horror film |
Psycho is an American psychological horror film
produced and directed by the famous director Alfred Hitchcock in 1960. The
story is taken from Joseph Stefano’s writing. The film is starred by Anthony
Perkins, Janet Leigh, John Gavin, Vera Miles, Martin Balsam. The film is based
on the 1959 novel of the same name written by Robert Bloch.
Story: After stealing
$40,000 from employer, Marion Crane who ends up at a Bates ramshackle motel.
Plot:
Phoenix office worker Marion Crane is fed up with
her life because they (she & her boy friend) cannot get married, Sam her
boyfriend is under debts. One Friday Marion’s employer gives her $40,000 to
bank. But seeing the opportunity she takes the money and hopes to start a new
life with Sam. So, she leaves town and goes towards Sam’s California store with
the money. She became very tired after a long drive and caught in storm by
changing her car with same license. But police keeps her on eye. Marion gets
off the main highway to hide herself from police and pulls into Bates Motel.
Norman Bate, the manager of the motel, helps her and offers to take light
dinner. But on that night Marion hears an argument between Norman and his
mother. So, she plans to return back to the town. But that night, she is
stabbed by a shadowy figure. He Norman sinks Marion’s car with her dead body
and all the goods/luggage. A week later Marion’s sister, Lila arrives to same
and talks with him about Marion’s whereabouts. Sam does not know about her
state. Private investigator Milton Arbogast investigates that Marion was at
Bates Motel. He did not get expected information about Marion from Norman bate.
He phoned Lila and informed her all about. But at Norman’s house Arbogast is
also murdered by the same figure. Lila and Sam were suspicious about the Motel
and Norman. So, distinguished Lila and Sam investigate at the cabin no.1.
Though they were given cabin no 10. They
get a clue of a torn paper written $40,000. They investigate that Norman is the
murderer. At the last scene, we see Norman is under police custody and a psychiatrist
confronts him, 10 years ago, he killed her mother and lover and killed two
girls before killing Marion and Arbogast. He has killed his mother and lover.
For this guilt, he wants to be his mother and when any girl is lovable to him,
he as his mother kills her.
Personal Analysis:
Psycho (1960) is the best example to know psychic
state of human mind. Alfred Hitchcock has applied several psychological terms
to this movie to make it successful psychoanalytical film. In the movie the
character Norman did not kill anyone. But He as his mother kills all the
persons. He actually killed his mother and lover 10 years ago. So, there comes
no question that his mother has killed these characters later. But he (Norman)
feels very guilty for these worst murders. Thus his mother’s mind sometimes, takes
shelter into Norman’s mind. So, he wants to be his mother and he takes wig and
dresses himself with his mother’s clothing and psychiatrist says that mother’s
personality permanently takes his mind hold. Here Alfred Hitchcock upholds the
film in such a way that the film has aesthetic view. Its character’s
performance, make up, costume, cinematography, sound and editing are full of
artistic view. Specially, the performance is full of psychological states. So,
the film is a good example of a psychological film. Alfred Hitchcock has
created suspense in the murder scene by using sound and editing. Performance is
not more important here. But the editing and sound must have created the murder
scene suspense. The audiences can notice here (the scene) with sound and
editing style. He uses close shots, sexuality purgation, brief shots, that
create it sexual, musical and fear. In the murder scene, Alfred Hitchcock has
used 69 shots in one minute scene duration. It creates suspense of sexual and
fear.
