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

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

 

 

Extreme close ups are used throughout the scene, for example an ECU of the plug hole is used to after the victim pulls the curtain off and died. The plug hole matches the victims eye and thus creates tension by comparing the draining away and her life. This ECU creates tension as it can be compared to the victim’s life draining away. Also the plug is full of blood which shows a comparison of the once white bathroom changing to a dangerous red place and the safe heaven turning into a ferocious hell. The blood mixing with the water shows a purity being washed away with evil, symbolising the victim’s life. This particular shot is also a well composed shot because the drain follows both the golden mean and also the rule of thirds this makes sure the viewer’s eyes are defiantly on the plug and draws them to the point of tension.

 

Editing is used effectively during the last part of the scene. For example after her blood has drained away the camera fades onto the victims eye and does 2 or 3 full turns just on her eye. This reminds the viewer that the events have happened to an innocent woman and makes them feel sympathy for her. The turns give the illusion of being in a trance or fading away, this then symbolises the life of the victim slowly fading away and the way she has been killed is almost unbelievable. The shot is also an extreme close up which makes the viewer uncomfortably close to the victim and so they feel sympathy and almost fell they should have helped her in her moment of need, this is a good technique because the audience realise there is nothing they could have done and the reality of how bad the killing was then sinks in. The fast paced killing has now turned into a slow painful death.



The sounds in this scene are mainly non-diegetic. One of the most effective sounds is the soundtrack which changes pace and pitches as the scene goes on. At the beginning of the scene there is no soundtrack just the noise of the shower water, but as the killer opens the curtain and the victim gets stabbed the music is very high pitch and fast paced but when the victim is left to die the soundtrack is lower in pitch and a lot slower. The soundtrack is high when the stabbing happens because killing scenes are associated with high pitched, fast paced soundtracks. Another effective sound is the shower, this is effective because it is a sound bridge which passes from the entering of the shower, through the killing and then onto the next scene. This is so effective because the noise of the shower reminds you, even after the scene has moved to the next room, what terrible events have just happened.

 

The use of a translucent shower curtain was a very effective part of the mise-en-scene as this hides the killer without completely putting the viewer in an unknowing state. The shower curtain was effective as this was a way of creating tension; it hides the face of the killer from view. The face shows facial expression and not knowing what facial expression the killer has is scary to the viewer. This shower curtain also allows us to see both the killer and the victim as a two shot, this only lasts until the shower curtain is opened but it shows how vulnerable the victim is and that the only barrier between the two is a flimsy shower curtain, this makes the curtain a symbol of vulnerability.