Topic > Alfred Hitchcock or the Master of Suspense

Director Alfred Hitchcock was called the “Master of Suspense”, because he used a kind of psychological tension in his films, creating a distinct viewing experience. For example, the film Psycho, which he directed, was considered one of the most terrifying films of its time. Created in 1960, it was a classic and a great norm-breaking horror film that violated all films. Alfred Hitchcock was in favor of using a form of psychological suspense in his films, building a well-defined visual experience, it is proof that Alfred Hitchcock was very influential in establishing the characterization and meaning of the characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThere are many recurring motifs in the movie Psycho, birds are the physical manifestation of these ideas. The film tells the story of Marion Crane (Janett Leigh), the protagonist, who disappears after stealing $5,000 from her employer. Another piece of evidence is that there are also many references to birds in conversations between characters, such as when Marion is told by Norman that she "eats like a bird". Norman also has a collection of birds in his living room, the main ones being an owl and a hawk. The continuous references to symbolize the life and appearance of predators and prey, the predators represent the danger, the killer and the prey represents the innocent, the small. The bird metaphor represents the different personality type of the characters and the dangerous association with the events that are happening. Alfred Hitchcock is likely to use motifs to bring out representation in Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock also uses mirror motifs, mirrors were often seen throughout the film and for example when the bathroom mirror reflects on Marion's assets. Perhaps the most obvious use of the mirror was when Marion's sister sees her reflection in another mirror and is shocked into believing there is someone behind her. Another piece of evidence is that when Marion enters the Bates Motel offices, the camera was caught in her reflection before she even entered the picture. We see Norman and Marion together in the mirror for a split second. This must mean that two characters had a guilty immoral side, or that the immoral half of Marion and Normans were somehow trapped. The fact in this case is that Alfred Hitchcock uses meaning and dominant effectively to demonstrate characterization. Another motif that Alfred Hitchcock uses as symbolic are the eyes when Norman watches Marion undress through the peephole in the wall, after removing a painting from the wall. There is an intense close-up of his eyes, including us in his unsuitable secret. In this sequence, Norman's eyes see the same thing that we as viewers see. In the scene where Marion was brutally murdered, shown close to her lifeless eyes, noting the image of Mrs. Bates' eye socket, both women had a mass drop after getting too close to Norman, threatening the dangerous part her. It is as if he had brutally ended his life to escape the eyes of the judge, also called "windows to the soul". It means that we can understand the characters' emotions and sometimes their thoughts by looking into their eyes. The staircase is another motif used by Alfred Hitchcock, upstairs it represents the Norman manifestation of his mother and downstairs it represents him innocent and normal. Hitchcock also uses the McGuffin technique, when Marion Crane stole $40,000 from the realtor's office. She became a secondary McGuffin after his murder. This clearly emphasizes that Alfred.