Alfred Hitchcock was an English film director, he made his first film in 1925, and left for Hollywood in 1939, where his first American film,Rebecca, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Hitchcock created more than 50 films, including the classics Rear Window,and Psycho.
“The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them.”
- Alfred Hitchcock
He was quickly named the 'Master of Suspense' and it's easy to see why.
He was, and still is, able to leave the viewer on the edge of their seat throughout the entire film. The use of lighting and negative space adds tension to the scenes, as well as the poses of the actors. For example, Hitchcock's 1960 film, Psycho uses all of these elements to create suspense.
Norman Bates, owner of Bates Motel, comes across as a shy, but kind man who has a hobby for taxidermy. The use of lighting in this scene drew me in even more. The way the shadows from the frames and the owl were cast onto the wall and the eerie pose of him stroking one of his stuffed animals initially leads you to believe that he is perhaps the killer. But later scenes easily change your mind on who the real killer is.
The owl stares directly into the camera as Norman speaks with Marion Crane, guest at the Bates Motel. I found this interesting, as owls are associated with wisdom and knowledge, but they are also thought to bring bad luck, announce death, or even take away souls and guide the dead on their journey. This makes you question whether Norman is the 'wise owl' there to help, or the 'evil owl' who will take someones life.
From his very first piece, Hitchcock employed themes of false accusations, conflicted emotions and twist endings. He revolutionised the horror genre.
“Fear isn't so difficult to understand. After all, weren't we all frightened as children? Nothing has changed since Little Red Riding Hood faced the big bad wolf. What frightens us today is exactly the same sort of thing that frightened us yesterday.”
-Alfred Hitchcock