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Textual Analysis

The document analyzes how film techniques are used in the opening scene of Psycho to gradually build suspense and spark horror. It discusses how the camera work introduces the setting and changes shot sizes to convey the passage of time. The music establishes the mood as romantic at first but adds tension. Elements like costumes, lighting, colors and body language aim to seem ordinary at first so the audience relaxes before the horror arises.

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Jessssfc
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37 views1 page

Textual Analysis

The document analyzes how film techniques are used in the opening scene of Psycho to gradually build suspense and spark horror. It discusses how the camera work introduces the setting and changes shot sizes to convey the passage of time. The music establishes the mood as romantic at first but adds tension. Elements like costumes, lighting, colors and body language aim to seem ordinary at first so the audience relaxes before the horror arises.

Uploaded by

Jessssfc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Jessica Mills

Name of Film: Psycho


What?

How used and WHY?

CAMERA
Shot Size

Introduces the setting gradually and the camera shots change - as the measure of time
gets smaller, the camera angle gets smaller (wide angle when showing the date, narrower
angle when it shows the time), distance shot of town, high angle hotel, medium shot of
them kissing, close up of her face reveal emotions, close up of the two together with a
gap between them (about to kiss), medium shot of him shows emotion but also that hes
getting dressed, medium shot of him includes long shot of outside the window (building),
Panning over the town, tracks to hotel, camera moves as they roll over so they stay in the
same place in the shot, zooms in on her face unnatural camera movement but doesnt
seem it, the unnatural suggests difference and change so this element could spark horror,
tracks her walking,
Universal is edited to give generic conventions of horror (scary, flashes, mixed up)
Flashes from different scenes
Gives the date and time makes the audience wonder what significance it has

CAMERA
Movements/
Angles
Edits/ Transitions

SFX / CGI

SOUND
Non-diegetic

Tense, scary music for the opening credits builds suspense, shows it is clearly a horror
Romantic, melancholy music sets the mood, adds tension and mystery

SOUND
Diegetic

Talking, kissing, footsteps, fast breathing

MISE-EN-SCENE
Props

Fan, bed, uneaten sandwich, chair, bottle of pop, windows, blinds are closed most of the
way down (secretive, invading their privacy), clothes on chair, vase typical hotel room,
inviting, give a more homely feel,

MI-EN-SCENE
Costume

Typical 1960s clothing, watch, half dressed invasion of privacy, smart work clothes

Lighting (High Key, Low Key,


Naturalistic)

Low key in the opening credits, normal in the opening scene to contribute towards the
calmness and give little if no feeling of horror

Colours

Black and white clearly an old film, dull

Body Language/ Gestures

Passionate kissing romantic; calm; secretive; spontaneous; daring, stroking, holding,


cuddling, kissing her neck affection; love; provocativeness, lust, eye contact love;
longing; lust,, looking away fed up; frustrated; annoyed (first signs something is wrong),
he lies on the bed looking up at her relaxed; comfortable; not guilty, relaxed postures,
dodges kiss hard to get; teasing; comfortable and relaxed, opens blinds quickly
suddenly becomes less secretive and peaceful, lowers head - disappointment
Phoenix, Arizona
Equilibrium calm, normal, peaceful
Bedroom in a cheap hotel not much money, having an affair (middle of the day,
secretive) but other than this, the scene is ordinary. This makes the viewer relax so they
are even more frightened when horror arouses.

Setting

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