The document provides information about slasher films and analyzes key elements of the film Psycho and its poster and trailer. It notes that slasher films typically involve a psychotic killer murdering teenagers in random acts of violence. The poster and trailer for Psycho establish mood and tension through techniques like the use of color, lighting, camera angles, and abrupt changes in sound. Analysis of the trailer highlights how it subverts expectations of the genre initially and builds suspense through its shots.

1. ‘Psycho’ killers and Slasher movies
SUB-GENRE 2

2. BASIC RESEARCH INTO GENRE
• The slasher film, is a sub-genre of horror film typically involving a psychotic killer, who
stalks and graphically murders a series of adolescent victims in a typically random,
unprovoked fashion, killing many within a single day.
• The victims are usually teenagers or young adults who are away from mainstream
civilisation or away from help, and often involve sexual activities, drug or both.
• In a slasher film, the killer always uses unconventional weapons, such as blades,
chainsaws, cleavers, and blunt objects; rarely, does the killer use guns.
• There is often a back story that explains why the killer behaves, the way he/she does, and
is usually a male who would be the psychotic killer.
• ‘Pshyco’ is about a secretary that steals $40,000 from her employer’s client, then goes on
the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his
mother.
• Director: Alfred Hitchcock

3. ‘PSYCHO’ POSTER ANALYSIS
Poster analysis
• The man located on the side and lower-centre, is coloured
red, which could indicate danger, death and blood.
• Yellow is used for both the title of the film ‘Psycho’ and for the
girl which makes a clear link that this women is the main
character, as she is the same colour as the title and because
her picture is in the centre of the poster, magnified.
• The background cover for the poster is black and blue. On
one side there is a slice between the two colours, which could
imply some knife action goes on in the film.
• Also, the blue banner on the right-hand side has a list of the
actors based in the film, which will intrigue more of the public
to go and watch the film.
• The title ‘Psycho’ is ripped into two pieces which implies that
this film will include violence as a theme throughout. It could
also state that the psycho, has been ripped apart when he or
she was younger and now has to live with memories of the
past.

4. PSYCHO’ TRAILER ANALYSIS …
Trailer screenshots Trailer analysis
• An establishing shot of a crowded city during the day
is located after the titles, I the trailer. This is not the
stereotyped setting we would expect from a slasher
film. This shot pans across to a window which the
audience will believe the main character will be
located.
• Marion here, is seen hiding in a bathroom with the
money that she stole. A high angle shot illustrated her
vulnerability and weakness as she knows what she
has done, and might regret it. However, the camera
position could also suggest a view to the audience of
what an intruder would see, if they were to walk in.

5. Trailer screenshots Trailer analysis
• A medium close-up shot of the main character shows
us her worried expression as the non-synchronous
sound of her boss figuring out who stole the money.
• There is a huge contrast between this establishing
shot and the shot shown at the beginning. Here, the
conventions of a horror film are clearly seen, with the
dark lighting, the night-time setting, the quiet eerie
sound which is remote, and the rain. There is only
one light on in the house, and the audience want to
immediately know who is in there, and judging by the
un-settling look to this scene, they will guess it’s the
antagonist.
• The first impression we get of Norman, is a shy, timid
guy who is awkward and innocent, however when he
reveals a hole in the wall, that leads to the room
Marion is staying in; the audience get a new look on
this character which might disturb them, and want
them to find out more. The over the shoulder shot,
shows the audience what he is looking at, and makes
them feel part of it.

6. Trailer screenshots Trailer analysis
• A two shot is used when Marion is in the shower and
the door swings open, revealing a shadowy figure.
This shots makes the audience tense and anxious
waiting on what is going to happen, with only the
water running in the shower to be heard.
• The shadowy figure is then revealed holding a knife
above their head, when the camera zooms in. when
this happens, the sound changes drastically to violins
and other high-pitched string instruments to make the
audiences reaction more frightening. The
background light is sued to blind the audience from
the figures face as it creates a silhouette.

7. ANALYSIS OF BOTH POSTER AND TRAILER
• The development of horror has been modified since the genre came into existing. In the
21st century, the antagonists used are most commonly humans that have a mental illness,
or have had something happened to them in the past, that makes them how they are
today. This makes us, scared of ourselves and others around us. Before, when horror
genre first came out, the antagonists used, were supernatural horrors, such as monsters,
vampires, zombies, and ghosts.
• The capacity for humankind to provide the horror is very likely and easy to do. This is
because of the technology that has developed over-time. Also, the things that people
have become frightened of, is not monsters and the supernatural, instead they are
intrigued by these things. They are more scared now of their own species (humans)
because they know what they are capable of.
• James Franco opened up a exhibition in central London, and dedicated it to ‘Psycho’. All
his creations have features from the film, as well as some other ideas he got from the film.
Some of the work he has done has been photographed and is shown in the next slide:

8. JAMES FRANCO’S EXHIBITION

9. JAMES FRANCO’S EXHIBITION

10. ANALYSIS OF ‘THE SHINING’ POSTER
• ‘The Shining’ is a development from ‘Psycho’. Post-modernism is shown in this
poster by having a distrust of theories by drawing the attention to conventions of a
horror film. This is done by including an axe, a screaming victim, a broken down
door, a frightening man that looks like he might have some mental health
problems.
• The victim illustrated in this poster is on the right hand side and is leaning into the
wall, trying not to be seen by the antagonist. She has a butcher’s knife in her right
hand which she is struggling to hold as you can see by the angle of hr hand. Her
face looks perplexed and frightened with wide eyes and a open mouth, with her
head tilted back a little.
• The antagonist has his eyes in the direction of where he knows the women is
hiding. He has a smirk on his face but it does not look friendly. He looks like he is
laughing evilly because he knows that he has her cornered and out of power.
• The axe is located in the door as he used it to break the door down (or create
whole for his hand to fit through and open the door).
• The lighting used in this shot is high-key lighting. It is very bright with a white door
and white walls which implies a hospital. However, there is a contrast between the
two characters. As the picture illustrates, the women is based around bright
lighting whereas the man is more dark and has an orange/brown glow.
• The title of the film is located below the picture in red which indicates blood. It is
written in an italic font as it leans a little to the side. It also includes ‘By Stanley
Kubrick, Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duval’ below the title, to give he audience an idea
of who is behind this film.