‘Psycho’ killers and Slasher movies

SUB-GENRE 2

BASIC RESEARCH INTO GENRE

• The slasher film, is a sub-genre of horror film typically involving a psychotic killer, who

stalks and graphically murders a series of adolescent victims in a typically random,

unprovoked fashion, killing many within a single day.

• The victims are usually teenagers or young adults who are away from mainstream

civilisation or away from help, and often involve sexual activities, drug or both.

• In a slasher film, the killer always uses unconventional weapons, such as blades,

chainsaws, cleavers, and blunt objects; rarely, does the killer use guns.

• There is often a back story that explains why the killer behaves, the way he/she does, and

is usually a male who would be the psychotic killer.

• ‘Pshyco’ is about a secretary that steals $40,000 from her employer’s client, then goes on

the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his

mother.

• Director: Alfred Hitchcock

‘PSYCHO’ POSTER ANALYSIS Poster analysis

• The man located on the side and lower-centre, is coloured

red, which could indicate danger, death and blood.

• Yellow is used for both the title of the film ‘Psycho’ and for the

girl which makes a clear link that this women is the main

character, as she is the same colour as the title and because

her picture is in the centre of the poster, magnified.

• The background cover for the poster is black and blue. On

one side there is a slice between the two colours, which could

imply some knife action goes on in the film.

• Also, the blue banner on the right-hand side has a list of the

actors based in the film, which will intrigue more of the public

to go and watch the film.

• The title ‘Psycho’ is ripped into two pieces which implies that

this film will include violence as a theme throughout. It could

also state that the psycho, has been ripped apart when he or

she was younger and now has to live with memories of the

past.

PSYCHO’ TRAILER ANALYSIS …

Trailer screenshots Trailer analysis

• An establishing shot of a crowded city during the day

is located after the titles, I the trailer. This is not the

stereotyped setting we would expect from a slasher

film. This shot pans across to a window which the

audience will believe the main character will be

located.

• Marion here, is seen hiding in a bathroom with the

money that she stole. A high angle shot illustrated her

vulnerability and weakness as she knows what she

has done, and might regret it. However, the camera

position could also suggest a view to the audience of

what an intruder would see, if they were to walk in.

Trailer screenshots Trailer analysis

• A medium close-up shot of the main character shows

us her worried expression as the non-synchronous

sound of her boss figuring out who stole the money.

• There is a huge contrast between this establishing

shot and the shot shown at the beginning. Here, the

conventions of a horror film are clearly seen, with the

dark lighting, the night-time setting, the quiet eerie

sound which is remote, and the rain. There is only

one light on in the house, and the audience want to

immediately know who is in there, and judging by the

un-settling look to this scene, they will guess it’s the

antagonist.

• The first impression we get of Norman, is a shy, timid

guy who is awkward and innocent, however when he

reveals a hole in the wall, that leads to the room

Marion is staying in; the audience get a new look on

this character which might disturb them, and want

them to find out more. The over the shoulder shot,

shows the audience what he is looking at, and makes

them feel part of it.

Trailer screenshots Trailer analysis

• A two shot is used when Marion is in the shower and

the door swings open, revealing a shadowy figure.

This shots makes the audience tense and anxious

waiting on what is going to happen, with only the

water running in the shower to be heard.

• The shadowy figure is then revealed holding a knife

above their head, when the camera zooms in. when

this happens, the sound changes drastically to violins

and other high-pitched string instruments to make the

audiences reaction more frightening. The

background light is sued to blind the audience from

the figures face as it creates a silhouette.

ANALYSIS OF BOTH POSTER AND TRAILER

• The development of horror has been modified since the genre came into existing. In the

21st century, the antagonists used are most commonly humans that have a mental illness,

or have had something happened to them in the past, that makes them how they are

today. This makes us, scared of ourselves and others around us. Before, when horror

genre first came out, the antagonists used, were supernatural horrors, such as monsters,

vampires, zombies, and ghosts.

• The capacity for humankind to provide the horror is very likely and easy to do. This is

because of the technology that has developed over-time. Also, the things that people

have become frightened of, is not monsters and the supernatural, instead they are

intrigued by these things. They are more scared now of their own species (humans)

because they know what they are capable of.

• James Franco opened up a exhibition in central London, and dedicated it to ‘Psycho’. All

his creations have features from the film, as well as some other ideas he got from the film.

Some of the work he has done has been photographed and is shown in the next slide:

JAMES FRANCO’S EXHIBITION

JAMES FRANCO’S EXHIBITION

ANALYSIS OF ‘THE SHINING’ POSTER • ‘The Shining’ is a development from ‘Psycho’. Post-modernism is shown in this

poster by having a distrust of theories by drawing the attention to conventions of a

horror film. This is done by including an axe, a screaming victim, a broken down

door, a frightening man that looks like he might have some mental health

problems.

• The victim illustrated in this poster is on the right hand side and is leaning into the

wall, trying not to be seen by the antagonist. She has a butcher’s knife in her right

hand which she is struggling to hold as you can see by the angle of hr hand. Her

face looks perplexed and frightened with wide eyes and a open mouth, with her

head tilted back a little.

• The antagonist has his eyes in the direction of where he knows the women is

hiding. He has a smirk on his face but it does not look friendly. He looks like he is

laughing evilly because he knows that he has her cornered and out of power.

• The axe is located in the door as he used it to break the door down (or create

whole for his hand to fit through and open the door).

• The lighting used in this shot is high-key lighting. It is very bright with a white door

and white walls which implies a hospital. However, there is a contrast between the

two characters. As the picture illustrates, the women is based around bright

lighting whereas the man is more dark and has an orange/brown glow.

• The title of the film is located below the picture in red which indicates blood. It is

written in an italic font as it leans a little to the side. It also includes ‘By Stanley

Kubrick, Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duval’ below the title, to give he audience an idea

of who is behind this film.