750 word analysis

Word Analysis for Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘Psycho’ features many mystery and thriller aspects especially in the shower scene shown in this clip. The female character Marion is shown first thing in this scene with no music and bright lights shining which gives off the impression that this isn’t an eerie scene but there may be a sudden switch as something may happen. The camera then moves to a medium close-up of Marion as she begins to take her shower which shows her facial expressions, looking very relaxed and satisfied, but the scene continues to feature no music only the sound of the water which intensifies the scene. She can be seen visibly enjoying the shower but great suspense is immediately added when the camera angle allows us to see the bathroom door open revealing a dark figure that slowly moves towards the shower. The lighting covers the figures face which is purposely done to create more suspense and mystery which adds to the terror (action and enigma) in this scene, the shower curtain also works as a cover up for the figure as it also blurs out its whole figure so we cannot even see if it’s a male or female. The figure then rapidly pulls open the shower curtain and with this dramatic music then starts to play intensifying the scene instantaneously. This shocks the audience and adds a horror element. We then see a close up Marion face as she screams with a petrified look on her face which is a huge contrast to the start where she is very relaxed. There is then an extreme close up on her mouth as which is wide open as she is crying out for help.  The music replicates the movement of the knife which makes the audience feel even tenser as they have to sit through and watch as the man continuously attacks the defenceless woman. We are then shown a close up of the shower floor as we see Marion’s legs twitching and blood fall into the water as she is menacingly stabbed with the knife without any remorse. We then see the figure leave the bathroom and with this the music begins to tone down and we can hear Marion’s heavy breaths, moving on we are then shown a close up of the Marion’s lifeless hands as they slide down the bathroom wall, we are then shown a medium close up of Marion’s lifeless body sliding down slowly giving the audience time to grasp what had just occurred as it was very fast paced. We are then shown Marion trying to cling onto the shower curtain which represents her maybe trying to cling onto her last bit of life but this does not help her as the curtain breaks and she falls onto the floor with her lifeless body and blood still flowing through the water and down the drain as Marion lays there dead which gives off an extremely unnerving feeling. The fact that the scene ends and we are still left with no explanation as to who the mysterious killer is as well as the continuous stabbing adds to the element of action and enigma codes.  Going back to the beginning of the clip the bathroom walls are plain white which connotes to innocence and purity. The fact that she is naked in this scene adds to the fact that she has made herself extremely defenceless and can be harmed without any problems. The showerhead is the only thing we can hear at the start and by having the camera as close as it is it brings intimacy into the scene as it gives us the feeling that we are there with her but that also makes us as vulnerable as her which adds to making us feel terrified as we are watching the scene. The malicious music is called ‘The Murder’ which relates excellently to the scene. With each note played of the music we can see the image of the knife plunging into Marions’ flesh as we don’t actually see the knife actually go into Marion as the shot always cuts but we construct the scene in our head well allowing us to see what is not shown by Hitchcock.  When the killer faces Marion the music becomes very frantic which captures the true pain of Marion as she is stabbed. The edits in this scene are very important as when she is being attacked there are short cuts showing details of her reaction which makes the scene more horrifying and sickening to watch.