Psycho - The Shower Scene (Analysis)

Film: Psycho

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire

Released: 1960

My rating: 5/5

Elements of Mise en Scene, Editing, Camerawork/Cinematography, Sound

The shower scene

Most of the shots are extreme close-ups, except for medium shots in the shower directly before and directly after the murder. The combination of the close shots with their short duration makes the sequence feel more subjective than it would have been if the images were presented alone or in a wider angle.

This scene features good use of non-diegetic sound. Before the figure reveals their self and kills Marion, the only sound we can hear is that of the water coming out of the shower head. This was used to make the audience feel that the scene is rather normal and that Marion is just taking a shower, as you normally would. That is why their is no need for any soundtrack behind the scene. But, as the shadowy figure appears in front of the camera and starts to murder Marion, the scene explodes with screaming violins and extremely loud, ear-piercing violas. As soon as we hear this, the scene immediately intensifies and because a huge shock to the audience because it was very unexpected. The music continues playing whilst Marion is killed in the shower and this helps maintain the scene’s horror, tension and fear.

After Marion is killed and the figure leaves the bathroom, the music suddenly cuts and the sound returns back to non-diegetic. This leaves the audience with the eerie silence of the aftermath as the sit in shock and awe. The sound is identical to the sound at the beginning of the scene when Marion is still alive, the water is still coming out of the shower head and that is all we can hear. This helps the audience feel that the scene was still a normality scene, because Marion was just taking a shower when suddenly she was killed by a mysterious figure. The camera is moving back from Marion to see the after effect of the death. The scene ends how it begun with the emphasis on the shower head and just everyday noises that we all hear when doing things such as showering. 

A particular close up shot is used on Marion’s eye and continues to pan out as she lays dead on the bathroom floor. This has been used on purpose to ensure that the audience experience the full emotion of shock and the aftermath of her character’s killing as the slowly stare into her lifeless eyes as the camera pans away, revealing her emotionless, dead face.

The majority of the film’s camerwork is very still and hardly ever moves and tracks the characters. This is done so that the audience can carefully analyse the characters in the narrative and their conflict between one another. It also maintains the tension in the film and gives off an eerie feel, because although the camera isn’t moving/tracking much, the characters in the shot are incredibly believable and help create the psychological and emotional tension without the use of static camerawork.

How does Psycho fit the Thriller genre?

Psycho is more of a psychological thriller (a sub-genre of thriller), where the danger of the protagonist (in this case, Marion - although she is killed off early in the film) is heavily emphasized and the connection between the protagonist and the antagonist is more mental and emotional rather than physical. The protagonist(s) always get themselves involved in dangerous situations whether it was by their own choice or by accident. In Psycho, Marion chooses to stop for the night at the Bates Motel but accidentally gets herself caught up with a ‘psycho’, immediately becoming vulnerable and open to danger from the antagonist. Most psychological thriller include the characters solving a mystery to overcome the antagonist(s) and in ‘Psycho’, the mystery behind Marion’s ‘disappearance’ is left to Detective Milton Arbogast. As the mystery goes on, more conflict and emotions erupt between the detective and Marion’s boyfriend and sister.