Psycho Analysis- Miss Frisendar

Psycho Shower Scene Analysis identifying Thriller Conventions

There are many Thriller conventions throughout the shower scene of Hitchcocks' 'Psycho' from close up shots to shadows. These are used to let the audience see whats happening from the characters point of view.

Throughout the film Psycho there are many camera shots being used to create an understanding that something bad may happen: Panning is used when the woman walks from her dresser to the shower which indicates a change of location, there is also a zoom in shot into the shower plug which shows the running water and the woman's blood circling down the drain which represents her life being washed away which is conventional to a thriller as a innocent and vulnerable woman has been murdered. Another camera shot that has been used throughout the shower scene is a zoom out from her eye to her face which shows not only is she dead but her full facial expression in which the audience can see the fear and shock in her face which makes them uncomfortable as they did not anticipate that.

There are many camera angles that have been used as well, including a straight on angle which shows the woman's scared facial expression as she is being attacked, there is also a high angle shot in which we witness the killing from a birds eye view which represents the murderer being more powerful than the woman which is conventional to a Thriller as the woman is vulnerable and is fighting to stay alive. There is an extreme close up of the womans eye, the fact that it is wide open with no movement indicates she is dead, there is also a close up on the murder weapon which is conventional to a thriller and makes the audience uncomfortable as they can see the brutal murder taking place.

Another Thriller convention in the shower scene is that the murderer has a hidden identity, this creates more suspense and mystery to the scene and makes the audience uncomfortable as you can't see the murderers face. The murderer is also dressed in black which represents danger and doom which is also conventional to a Thriller film also as the murdered sneaks up on the female in the shower the audience can see the murderers silhouette in the background behind  the shower curtain which gives them an idea that something bad will occur which makes the audience uncomfortable, these are all conventional to a Thriller film.