Analysis of ‘Psycho’ shower scene exploring how film techniques are used to create effects.

There are a variety of shots used in this scene, but mainly tracking shots and close ups which, together with the use of sharp loud sounds and blurred images of an unfamiliar face, create a feeling of the unknown for the audience. Mise-en-scene is also used in this scene. It helps to make the audience, a key part in any movie, to feel that where the action is taking place is real. A good example of this would be that there is no light on the killers face, indicating to the audience that she is evil and also creating tension because the killer could be anyone.

The editing in this scene is also important; most of the editing is a tracking shot which shows the audience where the actor is in part of a room. Fast passed editing is also used in this scene; a good example of this would be when the woman taking the shower is being stabbed to death. The fast passed editing really helps to create tension and also give the audience a good idea of whereabouts the ‘Psycho’ is in relation to the woman being stabbed. Sound is a big part of this scene, whether it be when she is being stabbed or before, when the tension is building.  Before she is stabbed, the most dominant sound is the shower but in this case the shower sounds like wind in a storm. This is then linked in with when she is being stabbed because there are cutaways of storm clouds and rain, this is called pathetic fallacy.

One shot where all of the key elements are used is where the camera is in 3^rd person, Marion, the woman in the shower, is to the left and the killer is in the background but blurred by the slightly opaque shower curtain. Only being able to slightly see the killer gives the audience feeling of uncertainty and increases the tension. There is also a use of non-diegetic sound in this shot, added to make the falling water of the shower sound like a storm which connotes that bad things are yet to come. Because Marion is naked, it adds to her helplessness against the killer and also makes the audience want to scream out and tell her that there is someone else in the room which increases the tension and uncertainty of what is about to happen.

One other important shot in this scene is where the camera is showing an extreme close up on the victim’s eye. It might not seem important but along with the spiralling motion of the zooming out camera and the graphic match of the eye fading into the plug hole this shot gives the audience the idea that Marion is now dead because of her dilated eyes. The graphic match could also resemble that her life is just going down the drain along with her blood. All the way through this shot the editing slow which is a contrast from the once fast editing of when she is being stabbed, this also connotes that her life is over because the fight is over. Alongside this slow editing is the sound of a storm in the background, the storm that was once, like the editing, loud and violent has now become quite and tame, therefore connoting the end of her life.