Film Junkie: Hitchcock's Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock’s horror masterpiece, Psycho pushed the boundaries of the horror film genre and altered the course of suspense cinema with its graphic editing, lighting setups, point of view shots and infamous score. Psycho has long been a topic of discussion and praise amongst the film community.  Specifically, different scenes in Psycho are often referenced for scene break-downs and analysis.  This is because the success of Psycho’s narrative structure relies on the individual messages and cinematic qualities at work in each scene.  The sharp cuts in editing and point-of-view shots in the shower scene are signature to Hitchcock’s work and famous for the alluded nudity.  The scene in which Detective Argogast meets his end at the hands of mother contains many camera setups and angles that build up the anticipation to reveal Arbogost’s fate.  Specific shot lengths and setups contribute to the buildup leading to the kill shots.  For example, the shot of the door opening is seven seconds long.  The door slowly creeks open leaving the audience on the edge of the seats waiting for a reveal.  On the other hand, the last two shots of the scene - during the actual kill - are both one second long suggesting how quickly the attack plays out. 

Heavy shadows diminish visibility of objects within frame of each shot of the scene.  The shadows reiterate the uneasiness and mystery of every part of the home.  In the shot of the bedroom door opening, light floods in from the bedroom and a shadow is cast in the left part of the door frame.  By revealing that the bedroom light is on, the audience can assume that the room is occupied and the shadow is being cast by a person.  Subtle clues through lighting further provoke the tension of the scene. 

Music is brilliantly applied to create the suspenseful atmosphere, foreshadowing Arbogast’s impending doom.   At first the low strings very subtly play, but as the scene continues a series of violins and violas hold very long notes - contributing to the anticipation. Violins screech in violent strokes as the scene builds, and the murder takes place.  The Arbogast kill scene is a pivotal moment in the film, as well as a classic reference point to the unique genre of thrill that is signature to Hitchcock’s work.