'Psycho' shower scene analysis

How is editing used to enhance the conventions?

A variety of camera shots have been used to enhance the viewing of the film. A prominent example is when the camera zooms in on the shadow behind the curtain. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it makes the audience aware of the intruder's presence. However, it does not reveal the killer's identity to build tension and create an enigma.

This is followed by a close up of the victim's mouth which emphasises the victim's reaction to the sudden appearance of the antagonist. The sight of her screaming connotes her vulnerability and helplessness as a victim which is conventional to the thriller genre.This also demonstrates an effective use of camera by providing the audience with thrilling emotions. 

The blood seen in the bath emphasises the woman's injury which seems fatal due to it's excessive amount. This is a common convention of thriller films as it has a connotation of death which is one of the main themes.The sight of it washing away down the drain also reflects her fear which suggests she has been defeated.This theme is further exemplified  by the knife which connotes pain and injury. It illustrates the impact of effectual iconography on the scene. 

A shot of the character's eye zooming out to reveal her face is also used. This enables the audience to empathise with the character which is seen with a  lifeless facial expression that evokes pity. The tear seen running down from the corner of her eye once again connotes her vulnerability and innocence which are both conventional characteristics of a victim. 

The scene is accompanied by high-pitched orchestral music in the background. It starts very suddenly; from the quiet non-diegetic sound of the water to an unpredictable screeching sound,surprising the audience. It begins at its peak without the use of a crescendo creating very fast-paced action. Its impact is heightened with the image of the knife along with the scream which has a connotation of fear. The knife is another example of effective iconography as it can be associated with the thriller genre due to having connotations of pain or potential death.

The sound used is able to create an atmosphere which compliments the action as well as evoking emotions such as fear from the audience. It therefore achieves the desired effect i.e. an increase in tension. It is also adrenaline rushing due to being very sudden and unexpected which emphasizes the events of the scene. It can be concluded that the sound is a prominent aspect due to having a great impact on the emotions felt by the character as well as its ability to place emphasis on the iconography seen in the opening. The knowledge gained by recognising the importance of sound will enable me to carefully consider the soundtrack which will be used in our thriller. As I am now aware of the desired impact, I will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of sound and whether it compliments the opening sequence. This will allow me to choose the appropriate diegetic and non diegetic sound and so evoke emotions such as fear from the audience.

The editing of the scene involves the use of fast-cutting after a slow start in order to capture the audience's attention. Many edits being made in a short amount of time too keep the man's identity concealed. The sequence focuses on the woman which allows the audience to pay less attention to the killer;his identity a mystery. In out thriller, both types of editing will also be used in order to capture attention as well as create tension and suspense.