Using Other Genres to Advance the Horror Elements of “Psycho”

CCS 202 Bohang Liu Blog #2

 Psycho, unlike its predecessors of monster movies, has the “monster” reside in the head of a person. This redefines the boundaries between normal and abnormal.  The genres of crime, romance and mystery, help intertwine with the horror genre by allow the viewer to see the psychological state of the characters and the fragility of appearances by unleashing the monster within and at the same time maintaining the identity of horror film.

              The beginning of the film can be defined by the classic film noir genre. The scene between Marion and her lover Sam establishes the normal human behavior. We are introduced to moralistic standards that are bounded to the characters. Sam must pay off debt and his ex-wife’s alimony and Marion doesn’t want to hold meetings in her home due to her dead mother’s portrait. Instead of Sam as the romantic hero, and with the characteristics of film noir of cynical attitudes and sexual motivation, Marion takes matters in her own hands and steals the 40,000 dollars. This also brings forth the genres of crime and mystery as demonstrated by the scenes of Marion and the police later on.

                                                

            Marion’s getaway in the car scene has elements of a psychological thriller. We are able to witness Marion’s unstable emotion state through the dark music and lighting of the film. With the rain pouring and lights from the other cars, it creates the element of confusion just as what we expect Marion to experience. Without clear direction, Marion seems to be driving into the darkness. The menacing voices in her head allow the reader to sense her guilt.  

            Marion’s encounter with the policeman creates the paranoia that is much needed to advance the horror film. The policeman elicits a sense of mystery with his dark sunglasses. The appearance of the police in two different scenes creates the tension and suspicion. This scene does a good job of stimulating the same raw emotions that the protagonist is feeling in the viewer as well. The paranoia associated with the local authority makes the Bates motel an almost welcoming place, which in reality is quite the opposite. Because of the buildup of the plot through different genres, it makes every moment of the film tense and frightening. 

            As the different genres such as the romance and crime help build upon the horror film, these genres are left with being fully expanded upon so the viewer’s focus is still on the horror element and genre. This relates to points in Altman’s article that for a film to “remain faithful to true nature of genre…it must have clear borders”.  For example, Marion’s lover Sam, only appears in the first scene and never again, their love is not fully mature thus unsatisfying the gesture that it is a romantic film. The crime element and money is also left ambiguous. If more importance were placed on the money and crime, it would unquestionably change the film genre. As Altman would say “films must leave no doubt as to their generic identity”.

Altman, Rick. "What is Generally Understood by the Notion of Film Genre?" Film/Genre. London: British Film Institute, 1999. 13-28. Print.