How is cinematography used to create atmosphere

and effects in the shower scene of Psycho?

Camera Shots
Many camera shots are used
throughout the sequence but
the most common shots was
high-angle shots, close ups
and mid shots. These shots
are used to emphasize the
action. The high angle allows
us to see whats happening
but also gives the character
more
power.
Close
ups
denotes
the
characters
emotion in detail and mid shots show what the character is doing.
For example, this is an over-the-shoulder shot but with the character
facing us. In the background, there is a figure behind the shower
curtain. The over-the-shoulder
shot creates tension, as the
audience knows that something
or someone is behind the
woman but she is completely
oblivious to it making her
vulnerable;
it
connotes
something bad is about to
happen. The use of close ups
allows you to see the detail and
emotion of the character. The still shot below is a low angle shot. By
using this camera angle is makes the knife superior to the victim;
emphasizing the danger that is about to happen. Also, this shot is
from the woman perspective. This is effective as it empathizes the
victim and makes the audience feel like they are part of the action.
Editing Techniques

The editing in the scene mainly consisted of straight cuts. At the

beginning of the extract, the pace of editing was quite slow. This is
because it helps to create
suspense
within
the
audience. However, the pace
of editing sped up as the
killer made a move on the
victim to increase tension
and make it seem realistic.
Once the killer has stopped
the stabbing, the pace of
editing slowed down again to
show the damage that had
been done. A dissolve transition was used from the eye to the plug.
This implies that her life is being washed down the drain.

Sound
The sound in the extract consists of diegetic and non-diegetic. At
the beginning of the extract there is no added sound. The diegetic
sound consists of the
toilet flushing and the
shower running connoting
everything is normal and
making it realistic. The
sound of the shower
running blocks out any
noise that may come
from the killer; again,
making
the
victim
vulnerable and oblivious.
However,
the
nondiegetic sound consists of a high-pitched noise, which alerted the
audience to watch closer, the sound of the knife and the woman
screaming. This is somewhat effective as the audience is now
intrigued and the soundtrack pace speeds up rapidly whilst the killer
is making an attack. Pathetic fallacy is used in the extract, the
sound of the storm outside is non-diegetic and is added to create a
dark and eerie atmosphere. The soundtrack is used to emphasize
the action taking place
Lighting
The lighting used in the extract was both low and high key lighting.
At the beginning of the extract the bathroom was well lit which
signifies everything is normal, however it connotes the victim is
exposed. The lighting then drops when everything turns bad which
gives an eerie effect. As the bathroom is completely white, the

blood from the victim contrasts

with this; giving the shot a more
gory effect. The killer is not very
well lit. The audience cant see
the killers face as the lighting is
hiding it, this creates a sense of
mystery.
Mise-en-scene
The setting of the extract is a
typical convention of a thriller because a bathroom is stereotypically
a place of safety however it also makes the character is vulnerable;
the victim is trapped not
knowing that yet. The house
in which the bathroom is in
seems to be isolated and in
the middle of nowhere. The
victim isnt wearing any
clothing, this instantly shows
that she is vulnerable and has
no power whatsoever. The
bathroom is generally a place
of normality so she had no
protection against the killer; straight away we can tell that she has
no way out of this situation. The victim is wearing red nail polish.
This foreshadows what happens next as the colour red indicates
danger. A weapon is a key convention of a thriller. The main prop
that was used was a knife that the killer was holding. In this extract
the knife had been emphasized due to the camera shots making it
seem lethal and the victim seem defenseless.