FILM THEORIES

Auteur & Psychoanalysis

By Laura Donnelly

Auteur
The Auteur theory came about in France during World War II, when
American films were denied in the country. French directors reviewed
American cinema and found a diverse body of work by Directors they felt
had been the primary creative force behind a significant body of work.
Auteur is a theory in which the director is seen as the artistic control over
the whole production of a film including script; treatment; aesthetic look of
the film and all aspects of the production itself. They put their signature
stamp on their films. Auteur represents another way in which audience can
appreciate films by identifying with the body of work in context from the
Director being reviewed.
Andrew Sarris defended the ranking of directors in the arts and established
his own categories of directors. Sarris also reduced the auteur theory.

Traits
of
an
auteur director;
Personal
history
Original work
Invents the shot
Genre bending

Psychoanalytic film theory unmasks the psychic mechanisms functioning in the

unconscious of: filmmakers, characters, viewing audiences, and specific instances of
cinematic discourse. It is informed by the psychoanalytical writings and character
analysis of Sigmund Freud.
Freudian Trio;
ID - represents emotional and instinctual
desires
Super Ego- represents the logical and
intellectual reasoning
Ego- reconciled the Id and Superego

Psychoanalysis
Film Characterisations

What makes up a psychopath?

No morals
Manipulators

Lack of empathy
Aggression

Compulsive liar

Childhood trauma

Great Auteur Horror Directors - To be

discussed further in Studio Production
(Part 2)

Wes Craven A nightmare on elm street

Stanley Kubrick- the shining

Alfred Hitchcock psycho, the birds

John Carpenter- Halloween , the thing
George A. Romero- Dawn of the dead, Land of the dead

John Carpenter - Auteur

Auteur Director, Producer, screenwriter, composer & editor.
Carpenter is known worldwide for his horror films such as Halloween,
The Thing etc. John Carpenter is a one of the most popular and well
known Auteur & Psycho-analysis film directors of all time.

Halloween (1978)
- Chosen psychoanalysis Film example
Halloween night 1963 Michael Myers stabbed his
sister to death, now 15 years later he escaped
from an asylum to seek revenge on his sister
Laurie.
Directed By- John Carpenter
Produced By- Debra Hill
Written By- John Carpenter & Debra Hill
Cast includes- Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee
Curtis, P.J. Soles & Nancy Loomis
Halloween;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ke9IPTIJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqnuJmKBZXk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqnuJmKBZXk