Hitchcock

The English film director Alfred Hitchcock uses outstanding examples of Film theory throughout his films. Two of these films include Psycho  an Vertigo. Both of these films demonstrate similar characteristics which are unique in their own way and only found throughout Alfred Hitchcock’s films. Some of these examples of film theory include Hitchcock’s use of eyes, jealously, close up shots as well as the usage of birds. Each element is found to be crucial throughout these two Alfred Hitchcock films.

Alfred Hitchcock uses birds and eyes in his film to portray a sense of stalking or watching. Hitchcock uses close ups on the characters eyes in Vertigo to demonstrate the feeling that the characters were constantly being watched and were constantly under the pressure f being seen or caught in some the activities they were partaking in.  This same theme can be found in his film Psycho. Normans obsession with birds mirrors the way he and his mother watch over the people who enter the motel. This analogy works exceptionally well and because of the expression “I’m watching you like a hawk.” The audience can see examples of this throughout the scenes where the mother is lurking from the window in the house and when Norman is looking through a peephole into the room next door. Both of these themes are portrayed vividly throughout both of Hitchcock’s films which is a great example of Hitchcock’s unique sense of film theory found in his work.

An extremely common theme found throughout both of Alfred Hitchcock’s films Psycho and Vertigo is the theme of fierce and deadly jealously and obsession. The usage of jealously is easily examined in Hitchcock’s film Psycho throughout the use of Normans mother. Norman’s mothers obsession for him is terrifying and she goes to the extremes to keep the attention of her son even if this leads to her committing countless murders. This theme of obsession can also help the viewer to better understand the usage of birds. Just as the birds are always watching so is the mother. This theme of jealousy and obsession is also found in Hitchcock’s film Vertigo. When John falls in love with Madeline his obsession of her grows. This only increases after her “death” when he persuading another women to dress, act and talk like her so he can pretend she is still there. When the women grows jealous of his dead fantasy women her envy eventually leads her to her death. This gives the film a repetition theme. Both films are extremely similar and add to Hitchcock’s unique usage of film theory.