Intertextuality

Intertextuality is the term to describe the visual referencing between films. This is when films 'borrow' certain aspects from each other, such as camera angles, mise en scene, snippets of sound or methods of editing. The audience often recognise these certain things from other films they have seen before.

This here is a scene from the film Psycho. This scene has been replicated in many different Thrillers since it's release.  



This scene was copied in the film What Lies Beneath



When the scene first begins, the same sound of the shower can be heard in the background. The mise en scene is also very similar, as the bathroom, bathtub and tiles are all white, just like in Psycho. The shower head is the same as well. In addition to this, there is a female victim.

It was also copied in Fatal Attraction




Again, there is a white theme throughout, from the women's bathrobes to the bathtub and the tiles. Also, the knife is a key prop that is repeated in this film. The shower head is another key prop. After the lady is shot, she slides down the tiles. This is the same as what happens in Psycho. Breaking the white shower curtains has also been included in this film.

The Stepfather is another film that has copies this specific scene.



The scene starts 8:29.

This scene has also included the same knife, white tiles and a shot of the curtain getting pulled down. There is a similar shot of him coming coming into the bathroom as well. However, The Stepfather has borrowed a shot from What Lies Beneath too. The birds eye shot of the protagonist running up the stairs is the same as in What Lies Beneath.