Psycho

I recently have watched Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) from the Pop Culture library, I’ve noticed that many scenes are very unique in how dark they are, the performances, sound/score and lighting. One scene that sticks out the most is the shower scene and the different techniques used in it is phenomenal.

             As you watch the scene the cinematography is very well elaborated through the scene. We see a great many views from a great many angles; yet far from feeling surfeited with information about the event, we instead feel confused as to exactly what’s going on, except in the general sense that Marion [Janet Leigh] is being knifed to death (Sterrit 108). What is being said is that the different angles were purposely there to give us a feel of okay we know the character is being stabbed but by who and what was the purpose of her being killed off?

             Whether it is an actor, the story, the sound, or the visual components, audiences react emotionally to what they see and hear. Music easily communicates moods or emotions (Block 3). Through the movie all the way up the mood was very calm and mellow up until the killer tears the shower curtain. Then the rest of the film after that is very mysterious, intense and keeps us wondering if Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is actually the killer or not?

              I’ve recently did watch the bonus feature on the DVD of the shower scene with and without the screeching violins. What I noticed that playing the scene without the music it doesn’t have the same effect of horror or suspense. According to the Making of Psycho bonus feature, Hitchcock did not want music in the shower scene at all at first and wanted just the stabbing. Which as I looked at it with another person with me it still is horrifying and makes you cringe a little bit with only the sound effects and screaming. When the screeching violins that Bernard Herrmann adds, it does make you jump and scared out of your mind or as some said, “I’m afraid to take a shower after that scene.” This is a good example Block was pointing out is that the music does help with the mood and tone of the film.

              The scene also is a great example of Affinity and more contrast because when the camera is placed where the character is on the right side of the frame she is in a darker grey color tone. Where the curtains and the whole rest of the shot have less visual intensity and lacks intensity. Also, with movement there is the camera moving in towards the center of the curtain moving us toward the center and we barely can make out something moving until the curtains are torn open to reveal a mysterious killer. That shot was probably meant to be in there to give us the comfortless vibe of someone or something is coming.

              The shower scene in Psycho is a good example of Block’s principles, in terms of contrast, camera movement, affinity, music and tone. This film proves that Block’s “Visual Story” definitely is a true example of film elements.   

Works Cited

Psycho. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock. Universal Pictures, 1960. Film

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Block, Bruce A. The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, Television, and Digital Media. Amsterdam: Focal Press, 2007. Print.

Sterritt, David. The Films of Alfred Hitchcock. Cambridge: Cambridge U Press, 2002. Print.