I have chosen four motions pictures, “Strangers on a train” and “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock, “Gone girl” by David Fincher and “Nightcrawler” by Dan Gilroy, two for each category that they represent two different aspects in order to unravel the big question, to what extend the complex characteristic of the antagonists determine the audience sophisticated criticism?
“Strangers on a Train”, directed Alfred Hitchcock in 1950, tells the story concerning two strangers who meet on a train, amateur tennis player Guy Haines and a charming psychopath Bruno Anthony. Bruno suggests that because they each want to “get rid” of someone, they should “exchange” murders, and that way neither will get caught. Bruno Anthony is a psychopath but he isn’t some loon. This is a man who has mastered the art of manipulation; he’s not just villain but a dangerous one. He is a suave socialite with an extravagant lifestyle: his dress shoes, a silk robe, a tie clip that bears his first name. Bruno gets pampered by his mother with manicures. He knows what he wants and how to get what he wants. Bruno’s aggressive approach at …show more content…
The film centers on the encounter between secretary Marion Crane, who ends up at a secluded motel after embezzling money from her boss, and the motel’s disturbed owner-manager Norman Bates and its aftermath. Unlike “Strangers on a Train”, where two storylines are told parallel, “Psycho” emphasis Norman Bates, the antagonist suddenly becomes the main character of the movie, when the protagonist, Marion, was killed in after 30 minutes of screening time. One of the reasons Alfred Hitchcock decided to promote Norman Bates narrative line is to unravel the obscure character, who appears more than simply a psychotic murderer. We first meet Norman when the attractive Marion Crane checks into his motel, he appears to be a shy, young man who more or less likeable. It is revealed by Norman himself that he is usually alone with his mother, a situation he clearly regrets. However, when asked more about his abnormal mother, Norman’s passive behaviour suddenly switches to anger, outrageously defends his mother “ It's not like my mother is a maniac or a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?” Later on, as Marion is killed, the role of Norman Bates in the murder is ambiguous, as we only assume Mother is the killer and Norman is just an accomplice, covering up a crime like a dutiful son. It is only at the end of the movie . At