Psycho and Hitchcock
The production and success of Hitchcock’s Psycho was heavily affected by the factors of the production’s time of creation. Independently produced by Hitchcock, the film is able to acquire a certain freedom of expression and implement a new genre of filmmaking altogether. Psycho derived from the horror novel by Bloch, yet once interpreted to film was considered at the time to be so poignantly gory that it deserved the association of a slasher film. In an analysis, Michael Lewis adds that “Psycho helped create the modern horror film… [Hitchcock was] So fruitful… that a single film could spawn an entire genre” (1). With a film adaptation of a novel, it allowed Hitchcock to exploit his audience’s emotions of terror.
The movie Psycho in itself provides some forms of historical documentation, including the aspect of developing the slasher film genre. Lewis comments that “Psycho [has become] a capsule history of cinema” (26). During the late 1950s, costs of living were relatively low by current standards. The plot of Psycho involves a hefty sum, which might have caused further liaison between the audience and the character’s actions. Majority of audience members were below average income, recovering from a recession. During this time, the reasoning for actions by the characters could be justified, not scorned upon; generating a feel of reasoned helplessness towards Marion Crane, not necessarily anger. Hitchcock’s films often “took place in a moral universe” (26). While the plot is not moralizing, brash action remain justified. Audiences’ awkward emotions towards Marion where generated by Hitchcock, who enjoyed finding “situation that were [interesting], about which he could base a script” (2). The suspense offered little distraction from the plot; fueled by the character’s actions, and the potential for morale justification from these actions.
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