With four Academy Award nominations, this American psychological horror film Psycho produced by Alfred Hitchcock became a major work of cinematic art in 1960. Not only does the film Psycho appeal to audience, but it also strongly emphasizes specific fear of violence, deviant behavior, and sexuality to the film. Hitchcock exhibits a process of suspense homicide, and every plot always presents the shadow of killer, who tries to murder several victims by stabbing to death in violence, without appearance. Marion ran away with her boyfriend Sam after stealing 400,000 dollars from her employer. She stayed for a night at the Bate Motel with proprietor Norman who had difficult relationship with his mos. Marion during the shower was killed by a shadowy figure. Marion’s sister Lila found out who killed Marion. In the end of film, Hitchcock edited that Norman as a psycho had already murdered other woman. In this film, in fact, the violence and sexuality are main elements to bring about much attention and critics in the large social issues. The victims are always woman characters, and my research starts to focus on violence of psychopaths and criticism from other readers. In my adaption, I decide to change for different methods of violence and don’t use sexuality as a main element to provide a strong sense of fear.
Annotated Bibliography
“Horror beyond the camera: cultural sources of violence in Hitchcock's mid-century America”
This article by Thomas Hemmeter discussed that the violence of the film is more likely to reflect the big issue of society. In the article, Marion and Norman both recognize the social dimension of their plights. Marion stole the money and flee town. The Marion’s life is in desperate situation without jobs. Marion’s cramped space of life attempts to escape this society. Similarly, due to the fact that Norman feels powerless and hopeless to take care of his family, he tries to escape in contrary logic and then becomes psycho under the big pressure. During the conversation between Marion and Norman in the motel, in the film, she said, “ I stepped into a private trap back there--I'd like to go back and try to pull myself out of it--before it's too late for me, too”. Marion only believes that her trap is “private” stuff rather than considering about the the big issue of social condition. Those people who are threatened or exposed by the social condition beyond the control may become violent in their behavior.
"Alfred Hitchcock's psycho and the cinematic novels of Don DeLillo and Manuel Munoz."
This article by Banash David talks about the comparison between novel version of Psycho and film version of that. In fact, the main purpose of this film is not merely to keep audience the suspense; it is to shock audience and produce an overwhelming experience of horror movie. Hitchcock makes clear cinema image with its danger and provides the obvious detail or specific violent behavior about the killers. In the film, Norman builds up male sexuality and cannot tolerate female desire by Marion. He killed Marion for homicide and became real psycho. This part of film get serious criticism about feminism
“Murder, youthful talent in spotlight”
This news clips from daily telegraph introduces the another story which related to the Psycho film. “He’s Here to Help” a film produced by Dominik Moll of Germany and set in France. Michel, Clarie, and their three daughters are on vacation. During the restaurant, Michel meets Harry, a friend from high school. These two men have totally different situations. Harry has inherited a fortune while Michel is burdened by his family without money. However, Michel becomes psychopath and murders spree, because he cannot control much pressure from his family. Moll is influenced by cinema great Hitchcock. For my adaption, I am able to provide scenario with fear of violence in order to promote the suspense and doubts.
“The Aesthetics of Serial Killing: Working Against Ethics in The Silence of the Lambs (1988) and American Psycho (1991)”
This article mainly talks about two different types of serial killers books The Silence of The Lambs and American Psycho in violence. In the book of The Silence of The Lambs, there are a serial murders to investigate who is killing these victims. Charice needed to distinguish several bodies of previous victims by examining the victims’ skinned back and finding out rare moth in the their throat in order to obtain useful clues during the investigation. Although the book and film were very popular, there were some critical perspectives about attack for portrayal of women. In the other hand, American Psycho depicted the life of a serial killer, Patrick Bateman. His victims are women, black people, beggars, children and homosexuals. This novel is able to let readers witness the killer’s daily routine, his work, and other specific information. The act of violence is not direct. Tortures and killings are narrated in all detail in American Psycho. For my adaption, these two various genre of serial killers definitely provides the different feelings and let readers comprehend the distinct structure of serial killer like Psycho.
“ How do some people become psychopaths?”
Psychopaths may be manipulative, charming and exploitative, and behave in an impulsive and risky manner. They may lack conscience or guilt, and refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. The traits are for psychopaths a tendency for violent behavior, a failure to feel guilty, and disregard for laws and society. When committing crimes, psychopaths carefully plan out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. This information is closely related to the main character Norman who makes clearly specific plans to murder Marion step by step.
“'Psycho' who stabbed former friend multiple times jailed for 8 years”
This is real news about Psycho, Gary Cogman, who stabbed his friends Storer by knife many times. The event happened at the island's Smallgains. Mr. Storer suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and chest as well as wounds on his arms and hands. Mr. Storer said that he seemed like angry and psycho. In fact, not only does the film appears on the Psycho events about serial killers, but it also happened in our daily life. Mr. Storer got severe hurts by stabbing rom Cogman. Therefore, the psycho absolutely gives rise to huge impact to our social issue.
Works Cited
Thomas Hemmeter “Horror beyond the camera: cultural sources of violence in Hitchcock's mid-century America” Post Script, Winter-Spring 2003, p. 7+. General OneFile, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A105657300/GPS?u=maine&sid=GPS&xid=723184ef. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.
Banash, David. "Alfred Hitchcock's psycho and the cinematic novels of Don DeLillo and Manuel Munoz." Literature-Film Quarterly, vol. 43, no. 1, 2015, p. 4+. General OneFile, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A403299207/GPS?u=maine&sid=GPS&xid=7128e87f. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.
"Murder, youthful talent in spotlight." Daily Telegraph [Sydney, New South Wales, Australia], 13 May 2000, p. 027. Infotrac Newsstand, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A103683995/GPS?u=maine&sid=GPS&xid=1dc71ad6. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.
Allue, Sonia Baelo. "The Aesthetics of Serial Killing: Working Against Ethics in The Silence of the Lambs (1988) and American Psycho (1991)." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2008. Student Resources in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2181702966/GPS?u=maine&sid=GPS&xid=76f45dc2. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.
Bouchard, T.J., Jr., Lykken, D.T., McGue, M., Segal, N.L. and Tellegen, A. 1990."Sources of human psychological differences: The Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart." Science 250 (4978), pp. 223–228.
"'Psycho' who stabbed former friend multiple times jailed for 8 years." Echo [Basildon, England], 25 Nov. 2018. Infotrac Newsstand, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A563271997/GPS?u=maine&sid=GPS&xid=4069f5a7. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.