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

Camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene are used effectively in the shower sequence in ‘Psycho’.

The camerawork helps show the vulnerability of the victim and the chaotic image of the killer. There are a number of camera shots and angles that are used in the scene, for example there are many ECU shots as well as CU, Medium Shots and a canted angle. The mise-en-scene also helps show how vulnerable the victim is in the scene and gives the audience a realistic representation of how it would have happened for example the victim is naked and the killer is in a wig and shabby clothing. The sounds in the scene help create tension and chaos. Both non-diegetic and diegetic sounds are used to create tension e.g. stabbing sounds, dramatic music, water of the shower etc. The editing disorientates the audience as well as giving them a sense of confusion as the murder is taking place but then gives them a sense of peace after the killer works away. 

Canted angles are used effectively in the scene. For example, a canted angle shot of the killer’s knife is used after we see the killer through the water of the shower. Dramatic music starts to play during this shot as well. Canted angles are rarely used as they create confusion, chaos and can be disorientating for the audience. The shot is trying to create chaos and disorientate the audience as it shows an unnatural angle of kitchen knife that the killer is holding up. Dramatic music in this scene is used to help create the feeling of chaos and disorientation as it is in time with the stabbing that takes place after this shot.

Point-of-view shots are used effectively in the scene. For example, a point of view shot of the killer walking away through the water of the shower is used after the murder sequence is finished. This shot is similar to the shot of the killer before he started to murder the victim. POV shots are used quite often as it puts the audience in the shoes of the character and shows them what the character is seeing. The POV creates tension as the killer walks away after his work is finished and the audience knows the victim won’t survive. The shot is slightly blurred as the audience can only see the silhouette of the killer walking away. This is effective because it shows the audience that the victim is slowly fading away as well as being realistic as looking through water would slightly blur the killer as he walks away.

 

Close ups are used effectively in the scene. For example, a CU of the newspaper that the victim’s money was in was used after the camera moved away from the victim’s body in the bathroom to the main room of the hotel. CUs are mainly used to show the audience a close up of an important detail, usually the emotion on one of the actors face. The CU creates tension as the audience are shown that the killer didn’t kill the victim for money. This creates tension as the audience wonder why the killer killed the victim