Media assessment-Analysis of ‘psycho’ shower scene, exploring how film techniques are used to create effects

Throughout the clip that I analysed from the thriller movie ‘psycho’ I found out that during the beginning when it is calm the amount of shots used is not that many, however while the action is taking place the amount of shots in quick succession speeds up and become hectic and confusing, which links to the situation that the victim is in herself. The victim is unaware of the murderer that is behind her and when she is attacked she is out of her comfort zone as she is extremely vulnerable and her having no clothes on and only being able to hear the shower and her back being turned to the murderer shows her vulnerability. The non-diegetic sounds that are being put in leading up to the attack build up the tension and suspense for the audience, and when the murderer finally strikes the music becomes hectic and very fast which links with the action. While the woman is being stabbed the screen flicks to a clip of a storm which links in to the brutality of the attack which is occurring. After the attack the non-diegetic sound stops and all you can hear is the sound of the shower in the background which is slowly fading as if it links to the woman whose life is slowly fading away.

While analysing the clip from the film “psycho” I selected three shots that I would analyse in detail, the first of these shots is when the woman is in the shower and where the camera pans from her in the centre of the shot to only showing her in the bottom right corner and over her shoulder you see the door opening and a figure walking through the door. During this scene the woman is unaware of the person walking in through the door as all she can hear is the diegetic sound of the shower. In this scene the no diegetic sound is music which builds up tension as to what is about to happen to the woman. In this shot the shower curtain blurs the view of the murderer to give them an element of disguise and keeps the viewer wandering as to who the murderer is. As well as that it shows you the vulnerability of the woman. This shows the conventions of a thriller movie as it shows the sence of mystery and also action that takes place.

 

The second shot that I have chosen to specifically analyse in detail is the shot which it changes for a couple of seconds during the attack to a scene of thunder and lightning in a storm. This effect is used to associate the brutality of the attack with the brutality of a thunder storm. Also it is used in a quick sequence of shots which creates confusion and mayhem for the audience which may make them feel like what they would be like in that situation. This also adds a lot of drama to the scene which is taking place. The ferocity of the attack fits in with the conventions of a thriller film which furthermore shows that this film is a thriller.

 

 

The third and final shot that I have decided to analyse is the close up shot in which it shows her hand losing grip of the shower curtain and slipping of. As it shows her hand slipping from the shower curtain this could also emphasise her very life slipping away from her as she makes one last effort to survive but fails.