Psycho Analysis (Hartt)

Psycho Shower Scene

Alfred Hitchcock used editing and camera shots in the film 'Psycho' to enhance the conventions of the thriller genre. One of the camera shots used was a close up. The camera shot emphasises the importance of the character focusing on her in detail. The camera technique is conventional because it allows the audience to see the shadows in the background suggesting that the person behind the shower curtain is an intruder. The audience are also aware of this because the camera zooms in on the shadow building suspense. Even though the camera zoomed in onto the shadow, the audience are still unaware of who the person is because they have hidden the killers identity to build tension and create an enigma.

When the killer attacks the women a high angle camera shot has been used to emphasis the struggle between them both. The camera shot is positioned above the character which makes her look smaller than what she is. This technique connotes the vulnerability and makes the audience see her hopelessness. This is conventional because women as usually used as the generic victims in thriller genre. It also allows the audience to see her facial expression making it easier for the audience to build a relationship with the character. this helps them relate or sympathise with the character being attacked.

There is a zoomed in shot on the blood from the character washing away down the drain. This could shows her fear washing away as if she has been defeated. The blood connotes her vulnerability and innocence as a victim which is conventional to the thriller genre. This convention is effective because it makes the audience aware of the danger creating a level of anticipation. Straight after, the camera used a zoomed out shot of the character's eye revealing her face. This allows the audience to see the her facial expression making them feel pity towards her as they can see a tear coming down from the corner of her eye. This camera shot is also conventional because is shows a murder of the typical victim (women).

In the beginning of the shower scene panning was used to show the character moving from one room to another. This allows the audience to see that it starts of as a slow pace however when the attacker comes into the scene the pace quickens creating a level of anticipation and menace. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it shows a typical setting of a house. The panning shot also shows high key lighting. This make the audience less likely to expect something bad to happen creating an element of surprise.