It is evident that the signature and individualistic use and invention of many horror/suspense film codes and conventions,

as seen in Psycho (1960), clearly mark Hitchcock as an Auteur. This essay will give an overview of the horror, thriller and suspense genre, show how these codes and conventions are evident in Psycho and how the use of specific codes and conventions in the film make Alfred Hitchcock an Auteur. Hitchcock used many iconic codes and conventions that became the norm for the horror/thriller/suspense genre and this can be seen in films of this category today. Some of the best examples of these include lighting, the tone of music, isolation and the way characters are killed in Psycho. A common convention in the horror genre is to light the characters with harsh, high contrast lighting in the darker settings of the film. This is often used as a way of showing the inner darkness in people as Hitchcock does in Psycho, but it can also be used to add tension and eeriness that is created from the lighting and shadows. Another important aspect of the horror genre is how music is used to create meaning. Films attaining to the horror/suspense genre would not nearly be as frightening were it not for the music that they employ. The music helps to build up the suspense leading up to a main event in the film, when a character is murdered for example. The music slowly builds as low and soft having the audience not scared in the bang, but in the anticipation of it. The music is also used to provide insight to the characters motives and intentions. Another classic convention employed by Hitchcock is that of isolation. Horror films often remove the characters and isolate them so that the threat of being murdered is worsened because there is no one around to help or defend them. Hitchcock uses these conventions in his films to heighten and enhance the meaning of what is on screen. In what is considered Hitchcocks greatest work, Psycho displays many of the signature traits that make Hitchcock an auteur. The parlour scene best displays some of the most iconic codes and conventions that Hitchcock uses in the film. It is in this scene that we see the different lighting of the characters come in to play. Harsh, angular lighting lights Normans face and surroundings, whereas Marion is lit by soft lighting. When Norman turns his head, his face is split into light and dark, representing the good and bad sides of his split personality. Hitchcock also represents this split persona in the opening titles, where the cracked and fractured titles represent Normans broken mind. Another way in which he shows the difference between Norman and Marion is the angles of which the camera is placed. When Norman is speaking, he is soften shot from very low angles, making him seem big and powerful, whereas Marion is shot from in front and higher so that she appears small and weak. In these shots of Norman in the parlour, many birds of prey in imposing positions are included in the mis-enscene. These indicate that Norman is the bird preying on the small and powerless Marion. Hitchcock uses the lighting, angles and mis-en-scene to turn the conversation into something sinister and foreshadowing. An auteur is someone that exercises such creative control over his work and has such a distinct personal influence that they are considered an author. A work of an auteur is distinctly recognisable. It can be seen in Hitchcocks films that he is

an auteur as his films are clearly recognisable to be made by him. In Psycho, it is evident that much of the film is influenced by Hitchcocks obsession with birds. Hitchcock references and uses birds in a number of places including Lila and Marion Crane, having the story begin in Phoenix as well as using the birds of prey to give meaning in a very influential scene in the film. The use of and reference to birds are recognisable traits of Hitchcocks that link his films to him as an auteur. Also, his invention of many of the common conventions of the horror/thriller/suspense genre that were not common at the time is an excellent example of Hitchcock exercising the degree of creative control over the film in having the distinct personal style that marks him as an auteur. In conclusion, Hitchcocks signature and individual use, as well as the invention of, many horror codes and conventions seen in Psycho (1960) mark him as an auteur. Hitchcocks distinct personal style leave his audience knowing that each and every one of his films could not have been made by anybody else.