In 1998 Psycho the American horror film originally made in 1960 by Alfred Hitchcock was remade by Gus Van Sant. Both films were adapted from a 1959 novel by Robert Bloch. Both Hitchcock and Van Sant capture the shower scene with extreme emotion and anxiety.
Throughout the scene there are a variety of camera shots, angles and editing techniques, mainly close ups and reaction shots. These are used to show more emotion, and to make it more intense and almost uncomfortable as you get vibes and emotions from the victim. The scene has used a lot of editing of shots together, to make it more dramatic. The most common editing technique used is a jump cut, which is an abrupt cut between shots, making a dramatic effect, as well as fading in and out to create the sense of chaos.
One significant shot is the CU which is taken from a low angle and central to the frame of the shower head. This is showing the perspective of the victim, symbolizing purity and the sense of being clean. It also establishes the setting of the scene, which is repeated throughout the scene to create tension and to remind the viewers of the setting. Due to the shower curtain being drawn, leaving the victim without a clue what is the other side, which reflects her ignorance. The only sound used in this shot is a diegetic sound this is the water from the shower, making it more realistic and believable but also drowning out any outside noises such as the killer approaching.
Another important shot is a MS, and centred to the screen. The camera pan’s slowly to the left putting the victim to the side of the shot, but clearly showing a figure appearing into the bathroom. The victim is facing the camera, making her unaware of what is going on external of the shower. As well as the camera panning it is also zooming in towards the figure, once again the water is covering up any sound the killer maybe giving out. The MS carries on when the killer is revealed, the killer is in centre shot, due to the lighting her face is hidden making it more tense and mysterious, however some sort of light is being shown from the right and hitting her left hand almost highlighting the knife she is holding.
The next critical moment is when the victim realises she is not alone in the room. She begins to scream and the camera flashes onto the weapon in a CU centred in the screen, using the ‘Golden Mean’ composition exaggerating the knife. The shot then suddenly flashes back to the victim, but zooms into an ECU of her mouth. Due to the editing it creates tension, panic and fear to the viewers. The long scream adds discomfort and an alarming feel towards the viewer. As the shots flash back from one to another quite quickly, putting strain upon the watchers.
Another memorable shot is a MS, taken from a high angle. This is putting more of an image together, informing the viewers of what exactly is going on, so they have more of an idea. The shower pole is directly over the killers eyes, so you are still unaware of what she looks likes as her face is hidden. This shows the victim fighting back and fighting for her life. Also non-diegetic sound has been added this makes the viewer feel anxious, pressurised and taunted, the music is almost haunting.
Another expressive frame is the MCU, taken from eye level. The victim is in the centre of the shot, however to the left of it is her arm almost grabbing for life. As she slides down the side of the shower, she reaches her arm out in desperation and hope. This gives the impression she still has emotion and feeling. She is so weak, all she can do is force her arm out to try and induce some support. Also from looking at her eye’s a sense of a helpless, traumatised women hoping for some sort of release. The judgement you make is that it’s the end; the background sound begins to die down just as she does.
The most effective part I personally think is the connection between the pupil, the drain and the eye. An ECU is used to show the pupil dilating to show the victim dying. The music is still being used in the background, but is a lot quieter and deeper; this gives a sense of darkness and an ending. Another ECU is used and the camera pans along the legs towards the drain, this means we see the blood mixing in with the water from the shower, reminding us the shower is still on. The camera then gets to the drain, as it shows the blood draining away it is symbolizing her life draining away and it being the end, you can also hear the sound of the water flowing down the plug, making it more dramatic and realistic. The camera zooms in slowly then fades into an ECU of the victim’s eye. The camera is slowly spinning round whilst zooming out, this is still reflecting to the water and blood ‘spinning’ down the drain. Overall these three shots have been edited together to create the effect of Montage, meaning the audience are able to make a meaning from the sequence of images edited together.
One suggestive shot is after a pan from the bathroom to the bedroom, where the camera then focuses in a MCU of a newspaper sat on the bedside table. Due to the way the paper is folded you are unable to read the entire headline. But it is clear there is a map on the front page partly highlighted. Mise-en-scene is used in this shot. Not only is a prop used a perhaps a fatal prop but the setting is made clearer. The newspaper reads ‘Angeles’ meaning it is set in L.A. America. The fact not all the newspaper is shown and a proportion of the map is highlighted, leaves mystery as if something is hidden making the viewer confused and anxious.
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