Analysis of Psycho

A camerawork technique that is used effectively throughout the scene is

close-up shots. These shots are used to show objects or people in greater
detail and possibly convey the emotions they represent or show. A good
example of a close-up shot would be of the knife that the psycho holds
above him ready to attack, this draws attention to the weapon and
accentuates how sharp and dangerous it is as it shows the blade in
greater detail. This produces the emotion of fear and discomfort at the
predictable attack that soon follows. It is a way to raise the tension in the
scene as the audience can see the victims impending doom whereas the
victim herself is oblivious.
The speed of the editing varies as the tension and action varies. Starting
off slow the editing is calm and paced as the audience come to terms with
the setting and characters within the setting. It is at a sedate pace up until
the woman gets in the shower and the audience start to realise something
is going to happen where it starts to speed up. This change in pace
symbolises the rising tension and the build-up of the attack, also
mimicking the heartbeat of the audience as they watch the action unfurl
before them, unable to intervene. During the attack the speed of the
editing is at its peak creating a sense of chaos and confusion simulating
the feelings of the victim. After the attack the editing returns to a calm
pace but the camerawork is slightly eerie as it focuses on the staring eye
of the dead woman making the audience feel uncomfortable.
The sound of the scene is composed of different elements, soundtrack and
diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The diegetic sound is the sounds that
can be heard on camera, making the audience feel a part of the shot and
non-diegetic sound can be heard off camera hinting to the audience of the
surroundings and what is going on out of shot, the soundtrack is the
instrumental that can be heard in the background, this can express the
emotion and change the tension within the scene depending on the tempo
and the instruments used.
Lighting is used effectively all through the scene. There is a dark lighting
showing the exterior of the house symbolising negativity and
foreshadowing the events as common associations within Thrillers are that
attacks occur during the night time. However inside the building there is a
harsh, bright lighting connoting the harsh severity of the attack.

This shot is a point-of-view high angle shot. It is

showing the setting through the characters eyes
giving the sense of empathy between the audience
and the character as they view what the character
is seeing. The view of the shot is looking up at a
shower head that has been turned on, creating a
sense of being trapped, imprisoned and a feeling of
claustrophobia as the water jets mimic the bars of a
cell enclosing a prisoner. The way the shower looms
over the camera makes the viewer seem small and
powerless, almost weak and vulnerable;
representing the woman, who later becomes the
victim, and from her point of view.

This shot is a close up of a figure wielding a knife as

a weapon. The lighting is kept dark to keep a sense
of mystery behind the identity of the attacker with
the only distinguishable features as a fair haired
wig. The stance of the character connotes danger
and intimidation as well as attack as it holds the
knife at head height pointing towards what is
supposedly the victim who is out of shot.

This shot depicts a woman sliding down a white

bathroom wall as her blood runs from her back. It is a
close up of her face to show her features in greater
detail and to show her look of defeat as she comes to
terms with her fate. She holds her hand out in front
of her in one last desperate attempt to keep herself
from falling. The white pristine bathroom contrasts
the blood that has been smeared on the wall behind
her symbolising her purity and innocence being
tarnished as a victim of attack. The viewer cannot
see what she is looking at but assume it is at her

This shot is an extreme close up of a plug hole as the

blood and water drain away. The image of the blood
spiralling away down the plughole is symbolic of the
victims life draining away after the attack and all
evidence the killer leaves behind vanishes. The pure
water has been dirtied and ruined by the blood much
like the victim has been ruined by the killer. It is a
graphic match shot, later going on to match with the
staring dead eye of the victim.

This is the graphically matched shot of the plug hole

in the previous shot. The camera moves in a spiralling
movement, replicating the water draining away in the
previous shot. It is quite unnerving and uncomfortable
for the viewer as they are forced to lock eyes with the
dead victim for a prolonged amount of time, allowing
the force and brutality of the attack to sink in. The
woman is face down slumped against the floor in an
undignified manner showing the unfair and inhumane
way she died.