Analysis of the Shower Scene in Psycho!

Analysis of ‘Psycho’ shower scene, exploring how film techniques are used to create effects

Hitchcock uses many different techniques to create effect in the Shower Scene of Psycho. One of the key ways in which he goes about doing this is through the camera shots he uses. When in the shower we only see Marion’s point of view looking up at the shower head. This creates tension, as she is unaware that anything is about to happen. The audience however is far more aware than she is. This shows the reader that she is vulnerable in the scene and will possibly end up as the victim, also creating a sense of sympathy from the audience. This is only emphasised by the medium-close ups we see of her, this shows us her expression and gives us the impression that she is oblivious to any events about to happen. We see the silhouette of the killer approaching the shower, which creates the effect of tension because the audience can understand that the killer has malicious intent. When the killer does attack we see a close up shot of Marion’s expression this shows her fear and shock to the reader creating a sense of adrenaline. This section of the scene is mainly comprised of close ups because Hitchcock is creating the effect of claustrophobia. We also see the close up of Marion’s hand against the wall and reaching out to the shower curtain as one last push for survival. However the audience already has the knowledge that she won’t be successful. Hitchcock uses to finish the scene a graphic match between the plug-hole and the eye of Marion as it is an extreme close up on the two, showing the blood pouring down the hole, this confirms to the audience that the killer has succeeded.

Another way Hitchcock creates effect is through the different angles he uses. We see high angle (Dutch angle) shots of Marion in the shower. This shows the reader that she is vulnerable in the scene and will possibly end up as the victim. Yet when it is her point of view looking at the killer it is a low angle shot to emphasise how powerful the killer is in the situation in comparison. The high angle shot is also shown as a point of view shot from the killer, which emphasises to the audience that the killer is in control. Amongst this, the editing of the scene also has a massive effect on how the audience reacts to the scene. Hitchcock uses fast-cut editing to give the sense of an out of control environment, expressing to the audience the speed of the attack on Marion. Hitchcock uses a dissolve to show the cut between the eye of Marion and the plughole. This shows the audience the graphic match and illustrates the idea of washing sins away.

The mise-en-scene that Hitchcock uses is a large part of this scene and has an immediate effect on the audience from when the attack occurs. We see Marion naked emphasising her vulnerability to the audience this has the effect of creating sympathy. Marion being naked also shows the audiences that she is a pure character and fairly innocent, we know her intentions are to take the money back and ask for forgiveness. However, the killer is harder to see. It seems that they are wearing dark clothes, which has the connotations of being evil. This combined with the dark lighting of their surroundings illustrates this sense of evil. The props used create the effect of increasing the sense of threat and tension in the scene. The knife is a stereotypical weapon used for murder and explains the killer’s intentions to Marion. The blood washing down the plughole also links to Marion’s red nails, this creates the effect of emphasis over the idea that there are sins washing away. Also the bathroom is a place of cleansing, this is clearly used to illustrate the washing away of sins. Another effect of the setting of the scene is to create isolation as Marion is inside a motel miles from anyone that can help her.

The sound that Hitchcock uses mixes diegetic and non-diegetic. The diegetic sounds in the shot are the droplets of water coming down from the shower, which suggests to the viewer that there is a form of cleansing or something is being washed away. Yet, when the killer is attacking there is a sudden rise in non-diegetic sounds i.e. the knife stabs that have been edited in by the producer to emphasise the impact being created. Also, the use of the soundtrack that creates the effect of tension, as the soundtrack is a sharp/minor violin ensemble making a high pitched sound; this is a noise that the audience associates with danger. Hitchcock also creates the effect of a sound bridge when we hear the victim fall; this resembles the protagonist losing in this instance to the antagonist.