RESEARCH - Intertexuality

Screen grab from the famous scene in 'Psycho'

Intertexuality is when films visually take ideas from other films. This means the audience may recognise minor similarities in camera angles, the mise en scene, sound, lighting and editing. Aspects of the famous 'Psycho' scene are used in the following movies: What lies beneath, Fatal Attraction and Stepfather.

Screen grab from 'The Stepfather'

In this scene in 'The Stepfather' the female is the target victim similarely to in 'Psycho'. The scene also takes place in a bathroom and a knife is used as the main weapon. The action of pulling down the shower curtain is recognised in 'The Stepfather'. The victim is left slumped in the bathtub after being murdered like the woman in 'Psycho'.

Screen grab from 'What Lies Beneath'

In this scene of  'What Lies Beneath' the victim is female like in 'Psycho'. The main setting is the bathroom and certain camera angles resemble those in the Psycho scene such as a type of birds eye view where the bath/shower head is clearly shown to the audience.

Screen grab from 'Fatal Attraction'

In 'Fatal Attraction' the knife is the main weapon and the scene takes place in the bathroom. There is the act of pulling down the shower curtain and this is a significent action in 'Psycho'. After the character is killed, their feet are shown similarely to in 'Psycho' after the female victim is murdered.