恐怖之脸的退隐:西方恐怖片在1960年代的嬗变

Fade-out of the Face of Horror: Evolution of Western Horror Film in 1960s

希区柯克的《精神病患者》是西方恐怖电影中恐怖手段使用的一个分水岭,在之前的恐怖电影中,大多依靠一张恐怖的脸以及围绕这张脸所构成的故事来建构恐怖电影。克尔凯郭尔指出了人类的恐惧与他们的信念相关,外部的未知世界便是恐惧之源,早期恐怖电影中的恐怖之脸来源于人类早期的面具文化,并和启蒙时代的理性精神有关。第二次世界大战之后,西方社会经济的高速发展彻底改变了人们的传统生活方式以及观念,容颜故事一体化的恐怖不再让人感到信服,因此,在希区柯克的影片中出现了以感官刺激为主的恐怖元素。从此,恐怖电影在制造感官刺激的道路上越走越远。

Alfred Hitchcock＇s “Psycho” is a landmark in the history of western horror movies. Most of the horror films before this one center on a face of horror and use the face for plot development. In Kierkegaard＇s view, horror is closely related to the beliefs that human beings hold and often springs from the unknown external world. The face of horror in early horror films has its origin in the masks of ancient cultures and also has some- thing to do with the rationalism of the Enlightenment. After the World War II, the fast economic development in western countries has radically changed the traditional way of life and thinking. The formula of horror face story was no longer effective in creating horror effects. Hitchcock thus incorporated in his films elements of sen- sory stimulation. Since then, the horror film has embarked on the journey for more effective sensory stimulation.