Psycho: Camera Angles Analysis

Psycho: Camera Angles Analysis

In this post, I will be analysing the camera angles of the classic Thriller/Horror movie, Psycho. I will be explaining how the camera angles portray emotions, and how power changes from character to character throughout the scenes.

After the opening titles, an establishing shot is used to set the scene. It shows a crowded city in the middle of the day. This isn’t what we would usually expect from a thriller setting, as typical characteristics consist of low lighting, Isolated settings and it being set in the evening. This shot pans to the outside of a window where we expect to be introduced to a main character. The pan shot gives time to the audience to anticipate what is going to happen, but to also make them think that the “psycho” is maybe somewhere within this city.

This shot shows Marion hidden in a bathroom obtaining stolen money from her purse. A high angle shot shows her vulnerability and weakness in the situation, and we predict that her criminal actions will detriment her continuingly through the film. Alternatively, the high angle shot is placed in a position where the audience feels like an intruder as we see an action happening that no other character is yet aware of. This creates a connection between the audience and character and makes us feel important than the rest of the characters as we are informed of Marions actions.

A medium close up shot is used to show the character’s worried expression as the non-synchronous sound of her boss fitting the pieces together and figuring out that she has stolen the money is heard. The biting of the lip could suggest the characters apprehension and maybe regret of stealing the money. Alternatively, it could suggest her concern about being caught. Her rigid position again shows the exposed fret that she is feeling, also making the audience feel tense and uneasy.

This shot is a huge contrast to the first establishing shot showing a crowded city with natural lighting. This shot complies to the typical conventions of a thriller setting with little lighting, set in the night time and seeming quiet and remote, with the rain also adding to the mood. This is when we realise that this location might be where an antagonist reveals themselves. The only source of light is coming from one room within the house and this is where our focus immediately goes to as we want to know who exactly is in the house.

An over the shoulder shot reveals Norman uncovering a hole in the wall, that leads to the cabin Marion is staying in. This action is when we figure out that there is more to him than meets the eye. The first impressions we get from this character is a shy, timid man who is slightly awkward but innocent. This shot unearths a different side to his personality adding a mystifying element to him. This is the moment when his character becomes more important and disturbing character. The over the shoulder shot makes the audience again feel like their intruding adding a tense atmosphere to the scene.

A two shot is used when the bathroom door suddenly swings open to reveal a shadowy character. By using this shot, it makes the audience anticipate what we all believe is going to happen next. The tense and anxious atmosphere is emphasised by the fact that the shower is the only sound we can hear. The clear shower curtain allows us to foresee the next event however not who is carrying it out. This still keeps a sense of ambiguity for the audience, making it more appealing to watch as we think we are seconds away from finding out who exactly is behind the curtain.

When the shower curtain is opened the camera zooms quickly, ending up at amid shot of a shadowy figure holding up a knife. As soon as this happens it is accompanied by dramatic violin incidental music which adds to the audiences reaction making it more frightening. The use of no lighting on the silhouette keeps a sense of mystery to the killer, this makes the audience more intrigued to finally find out who the killer could be. The background light is almost used to blind the audience from seeing the killer as well as Marion. The use of one light again creates a more dramatic and theatrical shot.