EH: Technical Analysis - Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960)

I chose this sequence in Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960) due to the sub-genre of psychological horror being what our production relates to the most, while also including a vulnerable female victim who is carrying out her usual activities and is unknowingly approached by the villain. This scenario also occurs in ‘Aisle 4’, and thus I have analysed this shower scene to further understand techniques used to make the sequence so effective in building tension, a major aspect of horror that which we wish to achieve in our production.

Editing

In the scene, continuity editing is used throughout, with there being lots of S/RS used when the stabbing is occurring, with the female victim being given prevalence as she is given the reaction shots and at the end of the scene she is given the final shot.

Mise-en-Scene

The set design is particularly effective, with the translucent curtain concealing the murderer’s form until they are revealed when scarily pulling back the curtain, along with the costumes of each character showing their vulnerability and power, which reinforces and challenges dominant ideologies of feminine weakness.

Sound

The use of only diegetic sound to start with creates a calm atmosphere which is then abruptly changed by the sudden addition of dramatic music when the woman is being stabbed.

Still / Time	Mise-en-scene	Camera	Sound
0:00 - 0:07	-The woman’s costume of a silk gown, along with her makeup, connotes wealth and pride of appearance.	-A tracking shot is used to follow the woman as she moves around the domestic sphere, using a medium close up to portray to the audience the details of her appearance.	-Only diegetic sound is used, which gives the start of the scene a peaceful and ordinary feeling, as if nothing sinister is going to occur and it is but a normal life.
0:07 - 0:12		-A panning shot of the woman stepping into the bath sets the scene for the stabbing to occur, and it a somewhat establishing shot.
0:12 - 0:13	-A translucent curtain is pulled over, making the woman seem more vulnerable due to a lack of visibility outwards.
0:13 - 0:23			-The loud sound of the shower is introduced into the scene, and continues throughout the rest of the scene without stopping.
0:23 - 0:25
0:25 - 0:27		-A close up shows the woman’s content and happy facial expression as she is enjoying her shower, peaceful at this point.
0:27 - 0:31
0:38 - 0:39
0:41 - 0:57	-The set design of the translucent curtain is used to that the silhouette is seen approaching menacingly. -Lighting is used to conceal the attacker in shadows, giving them a mysterious and more ominous appearance, showing no emotion or remorse with the stabbing. -The prop of the knife is highly iconic of horror and connotes brutish violence.	- A medium shot is used along with the rule of thirds, placing the victim on the other side of the frame to the murderer and thus drawing the audience’s attention more effectively.	-The first non-diegetic sound is introduced when the murderer pulls back the curtain, knife raised. This dramatic music is comprised of fast high notes with an instrument such as a discordant violin, creating a frenzied and panicked atmosphere.
0:57 - 0:58			-A loud woman’s scream is heard, showing her realisation that she is being attacked.
0:58 - 1:00		-A close up of the victim’s face shows her scared expression as she sees the murderer.
1:00 - 1:01		-A close up of the woman’s mouth emphasises the screaming sound she is making, and thus highlighting her fear.	-The scream continues and is focused upon with the mouth close up.
1:02 - 1:02	-Lighting is used to conceal the identity of the attacker and cast them in shadows, creating a more menacing villain.
1:02 - 1:04		-A bird’s eye angle is used to create and effective shot in showing the close proximity the villain is to the victim.
1:04 - 1:05			-The woman continues to scream and call out in agony throughout the stabbing, making the scene more intense.
1:05 - 1:06	-The lack of protective clothing in the woman’s costume makes her seem more vulnerable and helpless.
1:06 - 1:07		-Close up of the victim’s face screaming, showing her pain.
1:09 - 1:09	-The shower water is obscuring the scene, which highlights the victim’s vulnerability due to lack of vision.
1:13 - 1:13	-The woman’s pure and unblemished skin makes it more horrific at the implied mutilation of her body.
1:13 - 1:14		-The woman’s pained expression is shown to the audience with a close up, which effectively shows the agony she is experiencing.
1:16 - 1:16	-The victim’s face is obscured by the running shower water, thus highlighting the fear she would be feeling due to a lack of clear vision.
1:20 - 1:21	-The costume of the murderer is opposing the dominant ideology of a male murderer, with the villain seen to have a woman’s hair and is wearing a female dressing gown. -The set of the hotel room in the domestic sphere gives a false sense of security which the victim previously felt. It also scares the audience more, as it is a relatable vulnerable situation in which they would be in.
1:21 - 1:27		-The extreme close up of the woman’s hand shows her desperately clinging onto life, but failing as it slips down the wall.	-The music suddenly becomes more deeper, these lower notes showing the end of the attack and the bleeding out to death of the victim.
1:27 - 1:46	-The character blocking of the woman’s hand stretching out highlights her desperate will to live.	-A long vertical panning shot is used to show the woman slipping down the side of the bathroom wall, a jib presumably used to keep the victim at the same position in the frame while still moving.
1:46 - 1:51	-The character blocking of the hand gripping on the curtain shows her defiance and will to live.
1:51 - 1:53
1:53  1:54	-The prop of the curtain is pulled of its hooks, representing the futility of the woman’s actions.
1:56 - 1:57			-The diegetic sound of the shower is still playing even after the woman’s death, becoming a constant aspect of the scenes that continues after death.
1:57 - 2:14	-The makeup of blood flowing away with the shower water showing the victim’s death and severe injuries. This draining blood could also represent her life slowly draining from her.		-The diegetic sound of the plug draining the water is heard, which emphasises the draining of the water and the woman’s life.
2:14 - 2:46	-The water on the woman’s face could be viewed as a tear, as she has lost her struggle to survive.	-The extreme close up of the plughole then fades into an extreme close up of the eye, with the round shape linking together the two objects. -The camera slowly zooms out, revealing the woman’s lifeless body on the floor, face pressed awkwardly against the tiles.
2:46 - 2:47

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