Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”

Trailer Analysis

Codes & Conventions of Horror Films

• Secluded Location (Alien 1979)• Dark/shadowy lighting • Female victim (Scream 1996)• Disruption of Normality • Sub plot of male/female relationship • Defeat of monster or villain • Extensive use of Narrative enigmas• Clear binary oppositions e.g. “good v.s. evil”• Camera work important (Blair Witch Project 1999)• Definitive Set of shots used (e.g. Close Up, Extreme Close Up)• Low key lighting

Codes & Conventions of Psychological Thriller

• “Normality” to the killer• Everyday setting; “realistic”• Ambiguity used to create tension & fear• Less gore – implied violence/evil• Use of flashback

The Trailer• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG3-GlvK

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Genre?

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How Does the Trailer Target An Audience?

• Everyday settings – bathroom, house etc• Attacks the audiences sense of “safety” –

alone in home, on holiday etc“Here we have a quiet little motel, when in fact it has now become known as the scene of a crime…”• POV shots give a sense of realism• Dialogue addresses audience:“I think that we’re all in our private traps, clamped in them… and none of us can ever get out…”

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Trailer Specifics• 1m 42s• 58 Shots

• Jump Cuts – creates confusion• Motivated Cuts – mask identity of killer• Quick fire cutting rhythm – “uncontrollable sequence of

events”• Cutting Rate increases with non-diegetic soundtrack to

disorientate audience – creates tension

Transitions Used

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Use of Diegetic Sound - Dialogue

“You know this is the first place that looks like it’s hiding from the world…”• Sense of isolation• Asks questions: What or why is it hiding? What is being

hidden?• “first…” – unique; the events that take place are

abnormal“She’s not missing so much as she’s run away…”• Confusion – ambiguity in narrative – crossed wires• What is she running from?

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Diegetic Sound Continued - Dialogue

“Mother! Oh God Mother!”• What has caused this cathartic outburst? Makes the audience

curious• Image of “mother” – family, innocence, care“It’s not as if she were a maniac… she just goes a little mad sometimes.”• Tries to excuse behaviour through empathy• Masks identity of person in question“She wouldn’t even harm a fly…”• Suggests an innocence to the “she” in question• Imagery of “fly” – small, disposable, easy to eradicate

Use of Diegetic Sound - SFX

Rain

Screams

Shower Running

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Use of Non-Diegetic Sound

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Characters & Relationships Presented

• Growing romantic relationship • Progression depicted between frames• Suggests it was merely a one night thing – distance

between characters later seen#9

How Does the Trailer Create A Sense of Narrative?

Image of the Car Contrast of Good & Evil

Weather

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What Does the Trailer Reveal About the Plot of the Film?

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Plot Continued• Murder – mise en scene/props • Confusion over identity of murderer – dialogue• Multiple suspects – dialogue & camerawork• Plot twists

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Titles Used

• Titles offer USP – Star Power of Alfred Hitchcock• “Psycho” – splattered with red – suggests blood spilt –

becomes distorted – distortion of reality – displays mood of film

• “Psycho” – immediately suggests one of the subjects involved is not of sound mind – negative term – events revolve around this disposition

How Does The Trailer Create An Enigma?

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Identity Is Masked

POV Shots

Close Ups

How Is The Mood Established?

“Here we have a quiet little motel, when in fact it has now become known as the scene of a crime…” #14

Common Camera Angles & Shots

• Close Ups – Identify Key Characters • Extreme Close Ups – Highlights Major Props• Medium Two Shots – Display relationship

between two characters• Shot Reverse Shot – Portrays important

dialogue between two characters• XLS/Long Shot – Establish the setting • Canted – Distortion of reality• Handheld Cameras – Display scenes of chaos

Why Does the Studio Use this Trailer to Market This Film?

How Successful Is The Trailer In Targeting An Audience?

• Creates suspense • Teases plotline • Directly addresses and targets audience

“The trailer is exhilarating and engages with my sense of adventure and thrill seeker side; it makes me want to watch more of the film” – audience feedback

Target Audience

• Film represents mature themes • Depicts graphic scenes• Ratings: US = R UK = 15• Represents range of ages – suggests we’re all

capable of atrocious acts “All of us harbour dark recesses of violence and horror. I am just the man in the corner with a camera. Watching.” – Alfred Hitchcock• Possible target audience = 16 – 38?

Codes & Conventions Used • Secluded Location • Female victim • Disruption of Normality • Sub plot of male/female relationship • Extensive use of Narrative enigmas• Clear binary oppositions e.g. “good v.s. evil”• Camera work important • Definitive Set of shots used (e.g. Close Up,

Extreme Close Up)• Low Key Lighting• Predictable narrative content

How Effective Are Film Trailers As Promotional Devices?