2. The white lettering contrasts highly with the black background to immediately
create an impact. Usually the colour white would connote peace, innocence
and purity, and black would suggest mystery and the unknown. Because of
this we as an audience assume that these opposing characteristics will be
represented through the characters in the film. The white letters have been
split horizontally into three. The jagged, broken appearance could suggest a
Negative event that happens within the film that alters the character’s
personality.
3. 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.
4. 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 Marion's actions.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. When the shower curtain is opened the camera zooms quickly, ending up at a
mid 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 .
