How does Hitchcock use cinematography to create tension in the palour scene in Psycho?

How does Hitchcock use cinematography to create tension in the parlour scene in Psycho?

Hitchcock uses a mid-shot in the parlour scene; it is used to create tension. This is particularly evident when Norman starts to get angry and the camera shows Marion from head to torso, this creates tension by showing her body language and her reactions towards Norman’s overprotective behaviour about his mother. Also when the mid-shots are shown this could link to another technique used; there are no two shots. Due to the clip having no two shots it gives the viewer an idea of an invisible barrier between Marion and Norman. The barrier is not broken until Norman gets angry and leans forward, this shows his dominants and how he controls what happens. This makes the audience feel exposed, as there is no barrier to protect them/Marion, and this then makes the tension of the clip rise.

Hitchcock uses the composition of shots to create tension in the parlour scene. This is particularly evident when there is a shot of Norman with the wall full of birds and pictures behind him; this is when Norman talks about defying his mother. Firstly the owl on the wall is larger than Norman’s head; this shows its significance in this scene. This owl is significant because it begins to show how he is psychologically dangerous, it shows him killing for his benefit for the first time. The owl has its wings up; this is also a sign of danger and the attacking nature of Norman. Norman is also shot from a low angle showing his dominants and making him seem dangerous. This is exaggerated by Marion being shot from a high angle showing her vulnerability and how she cannot be protected from Norman. All these techniques remind the audience of Norman being psychologically dangerous.

Hitchcock uses camera angles to create tension through dominants. This is particularly evident when Norman begins to become protective of his mother, and saying she does not need to go to a ‘mad house’. Norman is shown through a low angle shot, making the viewer feel small and the less dominant. This shot also shows Marion as less dominating than Norman and showing she should be threatened and scared of Norman, due to her being smaller. This shot is also Marion’s POV, this again shows the dominance of Norman due to it being high angled but also makes the audience feel empathy for her. After this shot the camera cuts to Marion with a higher angled shot this shot shows her as vulnerable. This shot is also a close up of Marion’s face; this shows her emotions and reactions and makes us feel sorry for her. Marion is in a high angle shot throughout the scene up until she gets up and leaves, she then is in a low angle shot showing she is no longer as vulnerable as she was before she decided to leave. These shots create tension by showing dominance and vulnerability between the characters.

Hitchcock uses shadows they are used to create tension. This is particularly evident when Norman begins to get angry. In this shot Norman is talking about his mother and the main part of his face (eyes and mouth) are shadowed; this effect hides his emotions and therefore creates tension. However Marion is not shadowed, she is in full light. She stays in the light until she takes dominates over Norman by standing up and leaving, as she stands up she takes both the dominates and the shadow. This effect could be linked to the high/low angle shots as it adds and reduces the dominates that each character has throughout the scene. Shadows are used well when Norman talks about defying his mother, the owl is the largest object in the shot and it also has a very large shadow making it stand out. It is important that the owl stands out as Norman being a taxidermy shows his a psycho. Shadows create tension and also make important objects stand out.

Hitchcock also uses framing to create tension. This is particularly evident through Marion and Norman never being in the same shot. This gives the idea of a physical barrier between the pair, this barrier also makes the audience feel safer as they know Marion is safe whilst the barrier protects her. The barrier also creates tension by not allowing the audience see reactions of the other character, this creates tension because we don’t know how to feel or how the characters are feeling. This effect isn’t always good because it does not allow the viewer to feel empathy for either Marion or Norman and without empathy the scene is not as effective or emotional.