Psycho 1960 (Narrative)

In week two of our screening, we watched an American suspense/horror film called “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock in the 1960’s. This low budget film is a classed as a watershed film in the Hollywood cinema history and the

postclassical cinema history. Hitchcock may have shot this film in black and white to creative more suspense and darkness throughout the narrative of the film. Hitchcock has managed to shoot this film with his TV crew. There was a massive twist in the narrative in this film between the characters of Norman Bates and his mother. Norman Bates was the center of this twist, clearly because of his split (dual) personality of his dead mother (who he killed) and himself. The films narrative ends with a twist with a new equilibrium.


There are 5 different theorists who believe in different narrative structures within a film. Tzvetan Todorov’s theory is the most suitable theory that fits into  “Psycho’s” narrative structure. Tzvetan Todorov is a theorist who believes that the equilibrium is disrupted at times within a film. Todorov’s theory follows the 5 stages, which are:

•           The Beginning
• Disruption
• Middle (State of Disequilibrium)
• Resolution
• The End (New Equilibrium)

   1. The Beginning- The opening scene of the film “Psycho” begins with Marion and Sam having an secret affair in a motel room during her lunch break from work. We then see Marion leaving the motel and she arrives at the office where she works.

   2. Disruption- Marion gets given $40,000 to put into the companies bank account, but instead she steals the money from her employers client. She goes home, packs her bags and makes her journey driving out of Phoenix, Arizona.

   3. Middle- She comes across a lot of obstacles on the way. She pulls up at the Bates Motel. She stays a night, but she gets killed.

   4. Resolution- Detective Arbogast is looking for Marion and the money but he also gets killed in the house on the hill near the motel. Marion’s sister, Lila makes her way to the motel with Sam (Marion’s boyfriend) to find out why her sister is missing and what has happened to her.

   5. End- Norman Bates; the owner of the Bates Motel is Psychopath that killed his mother, her lover, Marion and many other men and women. Whilst the investigation of finding Marion started, the stolen $40,000 lost its significance within the film.