Being considered the father of American horror as well as one of the greatest American directors, Alfred Hitchcock had a very large impact on the entire genre of horror. I have mentioned many "parent films'' in my posts, including citing Halloween a the parent film of the "Slasher" sub-genre. That being said, I'd like to discuss the grandparent of the slasher genre, Hitchcock's Psycho.
Usually topping most top ten horror lists, Psycho's story of Norman Bates is often referenced but never beaten. The film starts out following Marion Crane, a young woman who steals a large sum of money from her boss and ditches town. Coming across the Bates Motel, Marion befriends the odd-behaving Norman Bates. After her apparent murder in the showers by woman. A private investigator and her sister begin in to take interest in Norman and his elusive mother Norma.
Psycho uses shadowy imagery and noir-esque cinematography, to create a hostile environment that keeps the viewer constantly on edge. In the famous shower scene, Hitchcock used almost strictly close up shots, which made an intense, fast paced scene that left much to the imagination. Hitchcock made the twist ending a big hit, which many horror movies followed in suit.
The silent era did not not boast many horror films,, mainly because they didn't really catch on in the mainstream until Hitchcock introduced into the main. Out of those that were produced in the silent era, none of which stand out and still send shivers down the spines of viewers like of the German Nosferatu. I remember being 8 or 9 at a time and seeing a still image of Nosferatu's Count Orlock and being freaked out, even though it was used as a joke. The physical horror of this creatures appearance still creeps me out as a 20 year old. Nosferatu sprouted from unofficial adaption of Bram Stroker's Dracula, Simply with the names and some details altered.
Nosferatu centers around Thomas Hutter, a German business man who travels to Transylvania to meet with his client, the grotesque Count Orlok. During his visits, he notices Orlock's strange behavior along with his own physical ailments, and begins to suspect what Orlock really is. After his suspicions are confirmed, Hutter must race to home to save his wife from the clutches of Orlock.
With the film relying heavily on visual terror, this film successfully disturbs and unsettles the viewer, making every time Orlock is on screen a palm-sweating experience. This physically exhausts the viewer, making each appearance more dreadful than the last.
Together these films set the path for every horror film afterward. It is in the small club of films that can claim the same impact on their genre. Without these two, the landscape of the genre would be climatically different.
Usually topping most top ten horror lists, Psycho's story of Norman Bates is often referenced but never beaten. The film starts out following Marion Crane, a young woman who steals a large sum of money from her boss and ditches town. Coming across the Bates Motel, Marion befriends the odd-behaving Norman Bates. After her apparent murder in the showers by woman. A private investigator and her sister begin in to take interest in Norman and his elusive mother Norma.
Psycho uses shadowy imagery and noir-esque cinematography, to create a hostile environment that keeps the viewer constantly on edge. In the famous shower scene, Hitchcock used almost strictly close up shots, which made an intense, fast paced scene that left much to the imagination. Hitchcock made the twist ending a big hit, which many horror movies followed in suit.
The silent era did not not boast many horror films,, mainly because they didn't really catch on in the mainstream until Hitchcock introduced into the main. Out of those that were produced in the silent era, none of which stand out and still send shivers down the spines of viewers like of the German Nosferatu. I remember being 8 or 9 at a time and seeing a still image of Nosferatu's Count Orlock and being freaked out, even though it was used as a joke. The physical horror of this creatures appearance still creeps me out as a 20 year old. Nosferatu sprouted from unofficial adaption of Bram Stroker's Dracula, Simply with the names and some details altered.
Nosferatu centers around Thomas Hutter, a German business man who travels to Transylvania to meet with his client, the grotesque Count Orlok. During his visits, he notices Orlock's strange behavior along with his own physical ailments, and begins to suspect what Orlock really is. After his suspicions are confirmed, Hutter must race to home to save his wife from the clutches of Orlock.
With the film relying heavily on visual terror, this film successfully disturbs and unsettles the viewer, making every time Orlock is on screen a palm-sweating experience. This physically exhausts the viewer, making each appearance more dreadful than the last.
Together these films set the path for every horror film afterward. It is in the small club of films that can claim the same impact on their genre. Without these two, the landscape of the genre would be climatically different.
No comments:
Post a Comment