Psycho Analysis

Psycho Analysis

The shower scene in Psycho houses a variety of key camera angles and shots which create tension for the audience. These include several mid-shots showing body language and also facial expression, many close-ups and extreme close-ups of  objects or characters’ reactions and pov shots putting the audience in the position of the victim and the killer. Sound is also key factor in creating suspension and shock for the viewer. This is done by adding non-diegetic sounds such as a tense music and also sound effects that sounds of objects’ movements in the scene.

This shot is a mid-shot. It creates tension by the use of the curtain, it shows the killer’s distorted silhouette making the audience worried. It also shows the victim. The lighting is still bright at this point which symbolises life and the only sound we hear is that of the natural splash of the shower spraying her body signifying cleanliness. This is an effective use of sound because it gives the impression that everything is ok.

Another vital shot used is the extreme close-up on the victims hand as it grabs the shower curtain. This shows that the victim wants to and their last final move before they die. The shot could also be seen as a pov shot of the killer as he watches the victim die. The viewer is able to clearly see red nail varnish on the victims’ fingers and this could represent blood. The shower curtain is also effective use of props in this scene as this might signify a barrier between life and death.

In this part of the scene the murder pulls the knife up in a thriller like fashion.The music suddenly kicks in with powerful playing of stringed instruments, just like nails scratching someone’s skin, which raises the heat and creates an overall horrified atmosphere. The lighting is cunningly placed so that the light bounces off the knife so that it is well lit and to show the killers’ silhouette but the audience isn’t able to their face. This is a good use of lighting because the audience are left in a position of unsureity as to who the killer could be this creates tension. The camera angle used is a medium-close up just so that we can see the killers’ hand holding the knife and from their shoulders upwards.