Intertextuality

Definition:

Intertextuality generally describes different kinds of references in between films. It is almost as if films 'borrow' certain aspects from another film i.e. the mise en scene and layout of the setting. From the audience's perspective, we recognise this term from the way the camera angles are placed, costume and props and methods of editing involved where it is familiar in another film.

Comparing both Pyscho to other films, the main challenge was to recognise the similarities in both films where they have used Intertextuality from Psycho.

What Lies Beneath

What's happening?

A man presumably a husband is carrying his wife upstairs while she is paralysed from being drugged by him. Water running is heard from the bathroom as he approaches it and then lies her into the bathtub in hope of drowning her.

Similarities to Psycho

There are close ups of the showerhead which is identical to the one used in the shower scene from Psycho. While the shower curtain and bathtub both resemble the same props, plain and What Lies Beneath sticks with the white colour scheme as in Psycho.

Fatal Attraction

What's happening?

Both women are in a bathroom fighting with one
 another with extreme physical violence while a man who is located downstairs hears strange ongoings from upstairs and eventually rushes into the bathroom to find himself fighting off a pyschotic female.

Similarities to Psycho

A close up shot is taken of the knife identical to the one used in Psycho. Again, the white washed colour scheme is used just like the shower scene in Psycho to capture the terror and draw attention away from the setting and rather on the characters. During the end of this scene, we see strong similarities between both films in which the female is wounded and slides down the tiled bathroom wall, dying. In the same way, both women's facial expressions are precisely the same and holds the exact same gaze with the camera.

The Stepfather

What's happening?

Two scenes are happening both at the same time, a male is running upstairs holding a knife chasing after a vunerable female who runs into a bathroom. While a young male is rushing in the same house and finds a girl lying on the floor and comforts her. Back in the bathroom, the male holds up the knife ready to wound the woman however she beats him to it and stabs him in the neck and he falls back into a bath tub hurt.

Similarities to Psycho 

Key props are used in this scene relatively similar to the ones used in Psycho. These props are the distinctive knife, the shower curtain and rings and the white bath tub. When the male falls into the bath tub wounded, he holds onto the shower curtain. This same occurence also happens in Psycho where intertextuality is evident here.

Succubus (student thriller)

What's happening?
A young female is walking in a dark hall approaching a bathroom holding a knife. Whilst in the bathroom, a young male is taking a shower oblivious to the fact that he is about to be murdered.

Similarities to Psycho
The showerhead and the knife held by the young female both are significant props in this scene and also in the shower scene Psycho. The camera angles and editing of the stabbing are very similar in comparison to the scene in Psycho. The distinctive knife is used and the scene is almost 'remade' showing the strong similarities between both film scenes. Succubus especially, shows strong intertexuality leading up the the conclusion of the scene through the body language of the characters, mise en scene and camera angles used throughout to engage the audience.