Symbols and Tropes
The House
Here it is, folks. The single creepiest building in the world. Move aside, cabin from Cabin in the Woods. Go away, AHS: Hotel. Nothing is more chill-inducing than the Bates residence.Norman's HeadN...
The Knife
Knife ThrustSometimes a knife isn't just a knife.Norman (dressed as his mother, Mrs. Bates) kills women with some frequency in his hotel. Which brings up the question: if you're killing people all...
Voyeurism
Looking With HitchcockHitchcock, like Norman, likes voyeurism. The dramatic opening shot of the film starts high over Phoenix, and then swoops down to a window. You then move inside, where you see...
Stuffed Birds
We're sure there are a lot of lovely taxidermists out there. But sorry, taxidermy fans: your hobby has joined the list of Creepy Pastimes. Thanks in part to Psycho, we'd probably be more likely to...
Voices In Your Head
Marion's HeadNorman is famously the one in Psycho who's got another person behind his eyes. But the first person you see listening to inner voices isn't Norman. It's Marion. Several times as she's...