Alfred Hitchcock's Shattering Shock: Why Psycho Surprised Viewers the Most
Alfred Hitchcock is known for his masterful plays on suspense, but his 1960 thriller Psycho stands out as a film that caught audiences off guard in unprecedented ways. This article delves into why this particular movie is remembered as the one that surprised and shocked viewers the most.
The Unprecedented Shock Factor
Psycho delivered its biggest shock precisely in its opening 15 minutes, setting the stage for an experience that left movie theater audiences in amazement and unease. The film's unique beginning, where the lead character, Janet Leigh's Marion Crane, is killed off early in the narrative, was a bold and unexpected move for the time.
Janet Leigh's Early Death
The shocking death scene of Janet Leigh's character, Marion Crane, at the very beginning of Psycho was a groundbreaking moment in cinema. Prior to Psycho, it was rare for the film's main star to die off-screen so early in the movie. The audience was left shocked, off-balance, and disoriented, which Hitchcock intentionally achieved through this daring move.
This shocking moment didn't just surprise audiences; it traumatized many of them, leading to reports of people feeling afraid to take showers following the film’s release. This trauma is a hallmark of Hitchcock’s masterful psychological thriller.
Other Scary Moments in Hitchcock's Oeuvre
While Psycho may have surprised and shocked viewers the most, Hitchcock made other films that also left a lasting impact. For instance, the murder of Arbogast was another disturbing moment in the film's runtime. Unlike Hitchcock's usual style, where the camera cuts away from the actual murder, the brutal and unflinching portrayal of Arbogast's death in Psycho made it feel all the more chilling.
Other notable scenes include the reveal of Norman Bates in a wig and the unsettling internal monologue at the ending of the film, both of which Hitchcock handled with the precise and unsettling subtlety that made Psycho a landmark film.
Comparison with Other Hitchcock Films
While Psycho delivered massive shocks, it was also a risky experiment for Hitchcock. He intentionally shot the film in black-and-white and low-budget style to reclaim his title as the master of suspense, which he had previously held with films like The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) and North by Northwest (1959).
In contrast to Psycho, Hitchcock’s later films, such as The Birds (1963) and Frenzy (1972), included more graphic violence but did not replicate the level of shock and trauma that Psycho provided. These films, however, continued to maintain the suspense and psychological elements that Hitchcock was known for, just without the jarring fear factor.
Hitchcock on Suspense vs. Terror
Apart from its shocking elements, Psycho is often cited as a departure from Hitchcock's usual style. He once described his approach to creating suspense:
There is a distinct difference between We are now having a very innocent little chat. Let's suppose that there is a bomb underneath this table between us. Nothing happens and then all of a sudden... Now let us take a suspense situation. The bomb is underneath the table and the public knows it probably because they have seen the anarchist place it there. The public is aware the bomb is going to explode at one oclock and there is a clock in the decor. The public can see that it is a quarter to one. In these conditions the same innocuous conversation becomes fascinating because the public is participating in the scene. The audience is longing to warn the characters on the screen: In the first case we have given the public fifteen seconds of surprise at the moment of the explosion. In the second we have provided them with fifteen minutes of suspense. The conclusion is that whenever possible the public must be informed. Except when the surprise is a twist that is when the unexpected ending is in itself the highlight of the story.
Hitchcock's discussion on suspense highlights his method of engaging the audience with subtle clues and maintaining a steady build of tension without resorting to cheap shocks. However, Psycho was a unique departure from this style, focusing on the immediate and visceral shock of the unexpected.
Ultimately, Psycho remains a pioneering work in the genre of psychological thrillers, and its impact on both the horror and suspense genres is undeniable. This film stands as a testament to Hitchcock's ability to shock and unsettle audiences, even decades after its original release.