Sunday, 3 May 2015

Original poster photo




Final poster


Original magazine photos


Final Magazine


Evaluation screening


9/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Jump scare at the end was really good.
The editing was good and went along with the music.

Things that could be improved:
It was too loud in places.


8/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Good plot and use of body horror/fx.
The music went well and the jump scare was decent.

Things that could be improved:
Fade music at the end.


7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Creepy music.
The light switch was effective. Jump scare

Things that could be improved:
The second intertitle too quick to read.


8/10

Things liked about the trailer:
The music fits well and the intertitles make the narrative clear.
Range of shots.
Good effects with editing.

Things that could be improved:
Sound levels need to be sorted in some places.
Rose falling down the stairs was kind of funny...?


7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Body horror, editing and jump scare were good.

Things that could be improved:
It was a bit slow.


9/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Good use of jump scares and a very scary storyline.
Good use of body horror and camera techniques.

Things that could be improved:
Too loud in places and some jump scares seemed random.
I preferred the ending to the rough cut better.


8/10

Things liked about the trailer:
It’s tense and creepy which works well.
I like the jump scares.
Clear narrative.

Things that could be improved:
Whisper is a bit too loud.
Stretch out the music at the end so it ends better.


7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
After-effects were good.
The jump scare and gore effects were good.
Pacing was okay.

Things that could be improved:
The audio levels at the maybe need to be improved.
Whispering is really loud.
Music is super loud and a little distorted in places.
Ending was very sudden.


7.5/10

Things liked about the trailer:
The dialogue is better.
Special effects were great.
I loved the blood on the frame shot.
Sound effects worked brilliantly (light bulb). Good pacing. More variety of shots.

Things that could be improved:
Could be less predictable?
Have the scream play over intertitles.
End editing could be more dramatic. 




7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Good variety of shots.
Jump scare was very good and effective.
 Effects were really good.
Narrative was clear.

Things that could be improved:
Intertitles could have been larger.
Jump scare needs a tweak.


7.5/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Music fits well.
Intertitles worked well.
Beautifully shot.
Acting was good.
Nice angles.
Pacing was good.

Things that could be improved:
Talking was too loud and understandable.
Tension built up a lot but the jump scare needed to be louder and quicker.
 Intertitle needs a little longer.


7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
I liked the use of different settings.

Things that could be improved:
Maybe some shorter takes as it gets towards the end to build more tension for the jump scare.


8/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Good variety of shots.
Liked the close ups and the jumps scares.
The effects put on shots were good.

Things that could be improved:
Maybe speed music up.
Sharper/quicker ending?



8/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Clever pacing.
Lots of effective jump scares.
Music tries in well.
Clear narrative.

Things that could be improved:
Effects on shots?


7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Body horror, editing and jump scare were good.

Things that could be improved:
It was a bit slow.


7/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Good characters.
Jump scares were effective.
Locations were varied.
The pacing was slow/quick - collision cutting.

Things that could be improved:
Narrative was a little dry.


8-9/10

Things liked about the trailer:
Effective use of jump scares.
Good use of cinematography.

Things that could be improved:
Too many jump scares.
Initial voice over not engaging





The Evil Within - final trailer

Focus group feedback





What was liked about the trailer? 
  Nice use of different shots x11
  Music works well x12
  Effective last shot x5
  Good lighting x2
  Scare was effective in the bathroom x3
  Good narrative x6
  Good acting x3
  Pacing works well x2
  Well edited x6
  Good use of locations x3
  Good use of props
  Good use of inter-titles x3
  Clearly a psychological/thriller

What wasn't liked about the trailer?
  Slightly confusing story-line x8
  Dialogue was too scratchy x15
  Inter-titles are blurry x3
  Maybe add a jump scare at the end x8
  Needs music at the end x3
  Body horror looks unrealistic in placement
  Bit slow paced x3
  Lack of sound effects x9
  Music doesn't build up x2


Focus group screening

The Evil Within - rough cut

Shooting schedule

Prop list

The only props we need for our trailer are: 
  • A black or dark outfit for the main character
  • Fake blood; Latex
  • A teddy bear
  • A knife
  • A mobile phone

Health and Safety form

Shot lists

The Conjuring (2013) - poster analysis



The film poster for The Conjuring unconventionally portrays the diegisis of the film through an establishing shot, rather than a victim or killer which is typical of most other posters. This could be to establish that the property is a significant element of the film, where the horror manifests inside. The bare tree has lost its leaves and is juxtaposed in the forefront of the image, representing the notion of death and decay, which is reinforced by the noose hanging from it. It creates a sense of mystery as the audience are unsure what happened so by feeding their curiosity, they may be more enticed to watch the film. Furthermore, the noose is an iconic aspect of the horror genre, often most commonly associated with supernatural occurrences, thus allowing the audience to identify the basis of the film. The shadow underneath the tree depicts a figure which is not apparent in the actual scene, presumably suggesting that the main concepts within the film will focus around a secret past haunting the house and family living in it.

The house itself is conventionally creepy and larger than what may fit the average norm in reality, as more spacious rooms tend to add more fright in scenes of the horror genre. Demographics show that horror films are aimed at an audience of a working class community, aged 15-25 and mostly male orientated. Taking this into consideration, including a larger house in The Conjuring could be for more ideological reasons as the audience tend to idealise larger properties and aspire to have one in the future, thus potentially adding more appeal for the film.

The lighting of the poster is very dull with a variety of bland colours, mostly browns and stained whites. It connotes pathetic fallacy through the dismal mood of the scene as its foggy and grey, which further reiterates its horror dimensions and gives it a ghostly feel.

As the potentially most important aspect of the poster, the title of the film - The Conjuring - is structured at the top in large, bold lettering to capture the audience’s attention and further the poster’s overall appeal. The font itself is a mix of old and new, similarly to the Oculus poster for the same reason of intertwining the film’s significance of the past in with the present. The black reinforces the darkness of the narrative and the key themes within the film, further feeding into the audience’s curiousness. The date of JULY 19 depicted underneath the billing block is also in a larger font, suggesting its significance for the audience. The colour white contrasts against the grass and may help to specify the genre of horror the film is focused on.



The poster does not give any mention of who produced the film, but does however state two popular horror films made by the director which suggests that The Conjuring may have conventions similar to Saw and Insidious. Moreover, if people enjoyed these two examples, they would most likely enjoy The Conjuring which subtly adds more audience appeal by enticing people to watch the film.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) - poster analysis


The killer in the film, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ is represented as the central focus of its poster, poised effectively as if he is thinking. His stance almost seems to depict the concept of the film – the idea that he stalks and murders adolescents in their dreams – by having his head bowed as if looking down on the soon-to-be-victims. The prime element of dreams in the narrative is further reinforced by the tagline which emphasises the word Nightmare, also reflecting on the title.

The lighting is incredibly dark to portray the killer’s sinister intentions, but the few light areas highlight the disfigurement contouring his face. Also regarding the lighting, the background hints at the diegisis of the film; the darkness reflecting the concept of the killer stalking people in their dreams. Furthermore, the portrayal of severe scarring connotes a specific convention of the horror genre which states that killers in horror films usually have a dismal past that has caused them significant suffering, mentally or/and physically. This in turn has caused them to behave irrationally and sadistically – ultimately giving the victim the desire for revenge. Freddy Krueger is an example of this – his killings have been influenced by the youths and their parents who set him on fire after. Victor Crawley from Hatchet is another example. Lighting is also emphasised on the further end of the blade to accentuate the phallic weapon and enhance the notion of danger portrayed by the killer.

The clothing worn by Freddy Krueger is simplistic – a tattered red and brown jumper – to relate to the person he once was and refer to the attire of an average older male. The hat propped in front of the upper third of his face is equally as dark and conceals his identity.


The graphology in the poster helps to reiterate the themes of the film; specifically looking at the main text ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, the notion of red relates to the phallic symbol, which help to indicate the genre of this horror is conventionally likely to be a slasher. The idea of ‘Elm Street’ relates to the intended target audience because it reflects the norm of real life, and this in context to the concept of the tagline ‘your new nightmare’ further reflects our deeper fears. The billing block also helps to sell the film as it informs the audience of the main stars and cast involved with the film, as well as including a release date underneath.

Oculus (2013) - poster analysis


The main image represents a young female whose eyes are completely removed from the face, and are replaced by a stranger’s pair of hands, thus representing the idea of being trapped and/or significantly blinded- perhaps not in a visual sense, but in relation to not knowing the dangers that she is potentially facing. On the other hand, the integration of the hands may signify the idea of consumption- where the character has gradually been consumed by the evil, consequently altering the way she behaves and thinks. The lighting is minimal and fairly bright, representing the idea that she is good, however, there is an abnormal shadow present on her face that seems to be simultaneously expanding, which may again support the idea of the evil manifesting inside of her. Considering these ideas, the concept of the hands conforms to the notion of danger, and perhaps the auburn/red hair is also working in similar notion to portray this idea. Furthermore, the caption ‘you see what it wants you to see’ again reflects the value of the character being blind, because in affect the caption suggests manipulation of the eyes in contrast to what you truly perceive to be real.

In regards to the gender of the victim, females are often conveyed stereotypically as weak, whereas males are usually portrayed as the stronger sex. The poster seems to conform to this idea as she appears to be dominated by something else which therefore may suggest she has a decreased amount of knowledge in what is happening in her life, thus depicting her as weak. However, her auburn hair seems to reverse this idea as red hair is typically associated with the stronger females in horror films. Although contextually, she portrays an intellectual personality in the film which makes her strong, she still dies anyway.


The colours present in the poster are all very neutral which add substance and realism, therefore adding target audience appeal. The minimalism of features and colours works well because it helps to reflect the story. The character stands out significantly in comparison to the title due to its size, so it keeps the focus on the main image, which in turn adds attraction for the overall poster. Also in regards to colour, the title Oculus is set in white, reinforcing the supernatural concept within the story, and to make it stand out. The fonts themselves are a blend of modern and old; ‘you see what it wants you to see’ and ‘in theatres soon’ adhere to more current taste, whereas ‘Oculus’ uses a modern font style, but also incorporates serifs into it, potentially to give a feel of the past- which is a main focus within the film- or just to simply to add complexity and formality. The tag line is very pale brown and is slightly lighter than the neck which signifies its fair importance but due to it being much smaller in size and darker in tone; it shows that main title is the more dominant element within the image.


The tag line itself ‘it sees what it wants you to see’ suggests the lack of control the genuine characters have- hinting to something that is dominating and manipulating them in supernatural occurrences. These concepts of the narrative help to create suspense and curiosity which further interests and persuades the target audience. In particular, the word ‘it’ conforms to the idea of the unknown, also working to develop a sense of inquisitiveness and add to the film’s value of supernatural elements. 


Empire - magazine cover analysis

Horror sub-genre pie chart

Carrie (2013) - solo trailer review

The Conjuring (2013) - solo trailer review

The Babadook (2013) - solo trailer review

Evil Dead (2013) - class trailer review

Day of the Dead (1985) - class trailer review

Friday, 1 May 2015

Horror Mood Board

6 Panel Practice Storyboard

Evil Dead (1981) - film analysis

Let Me In (2010) - Film Analysis

Favourite image analysis - House of Wax (2005)




One of my favourite scenes takes place in House of Wax (2005) and follows Paris Hilton's character of Paige in  who is trying to hide from the killer. She conforms to the stereotypical character archetype of the female victim due to her attributes of being being blonde and fairly attractive. Moreover, Paige has just had sex, representing the theme of sex and the taboo within horror films, which further signifies the conventions of the female victim stereotype.  The connotations of this theme are reinforced in the first shot as Paige is depicted in a navy jumper which appears male-orientated, therefore presumably belonging to the man she had sex with.  Her bra is partially revealed underneath the jumper and is red which denotes danger and lust, again emphasising sex and the taboo. The expressionist angle used in the first shot conveys the character's femininity, which combined with the visibility of her bra provides visual pleasure for a male audience. This ideology conforms to Laura Mulvey's 'Male gaze theory', which explains how the apparatus of cinema, particularly with horror films, use women as an object of desire to pleasure a masculine audience. Paige is also holding a phallic symbol which she fails to use to her advantage, thus representing her weakness and reiterating the conventions of her character archetype.

In the second shot, a close up is specifically used to portray Paige's emotions as she attempts to hide, conveying her terrified expression strongly which works to create suspense, tension and equally a sense of sympathy. The incorporation of a close up further adheres to her weakness, with the lighting casting a shadow on the left side of her face to connote the negative CDI represented by her persona.

The blurry backgrounds in both shots ensure the character is the central focus, however it is just enough to reinforce the diegesis of the film. The location Paige hides in appears enclosed, grubby and undesirable which are conventions that horror films try to incorporate as they make the genre distinguishable from others.

Favourite image analysis - 30 Days of Night (2007)


This is the particular scene from the horror film 30 Days of Night (2007) that most appeals to me as it is appears dark and foreboding which seems to foreshadow what is to come, thus conveying a sense of mystery which develops a strong level of tension for the audience who are unaware of the events that may occur within the film.

 The scene poses as an establishing shot to reinforce the diegesis of the film and reflects a high angle over the main location which suggests the dark figures on the roof have more power over the other citizens living there. The use of low key lighting reinforces the recurring theme of night, perhaps indicating the importance that it presents within the film.

The silhouettes of the two characters glaring over the town are a prime focus of the shot, thus suggesting they will be significant within the film. They also denote the dark nature they may possess, therefore reiterating the threat they pose over the town; with the pathetic fallacy of the snow also working to signify this idea. Again, these concepts reflect how the characters are potentially unknown, further working to develop mystery within the scene and establish the notion of horror more so, which adds overall audience appeal.


Dawn of the Dead analysis (2004)

The following scene represents the notion of freedom as the remaining survivors escape on a boat, assuming they are safe. The inclusion of the American flag in the shot connotes patriotism and the idea of the American dream – it is positioned to the far right of the frame, thus suggesting the country is good. The film also conveys Prop and Todorov’s theory of the Classical Hollywood Narrative’s Structure, but this scene specifically indicates this idea as it represents the search for a new equilibrium where stability can be achieved, however this is not the case as the remaining survivors are ultimately are all killed. Ana wears a dark jacket over a blue shirt, representing some element of dark nature, perhaps displayed by her desire to be with Michael despite she was married prior. It may also indicate mourning, of her husband’s death early on in the film and by Michael’s suicide following this particular scene. However, the light is significantly bright on her hair which represents the good and innocence within her from her career as a nurse. Throughout the film, she shows a kind and caring nature by trying to help the other survivors, and overall embraces an important role within the group. Typically, blonde women in horrors are the first to die, with the darker haired ones mostly surviving. However, in Dawn of the Dead 2004, Ana is blonde and goes against these common conventions as she seemingly survives until the end with Nicole, a red head, and Luda – who has dark hair, dies earlier on when giving birth. Monica is also blonde but conventionally dies prior to escaping on the boat because she had sex, which is further depicted as a negative aspect of the CDI.

Dawn of the Dead analysis (2004)

In the first scene, Ana discovers what is causing the zombie virus to spread – a bite – which is indicated when an injured woman is moved into the mall and eventually turns into a zombie, then proceeds to attack Ana. This represents her intellectual strength as she appears a knowledgeable character. Ana also displays physical strength to kill this same zombie when it makes an attempt to attack her. This represents an unconventional trait for blonde women to obtain in horror films, as it is typically the darker haired females who portray strength and are the characters who presumably survive. Ana also represents this when using a phallic weapon to kill Steve further on in the film, protecting the other survivors of the group which reinforces her career as a nurse. In the first image, Ana is shown darkly lit and wearing a black t-shirt, perhaps to re-emphasise her male-orientated attributes of strength, rather than negativity. In the second image, Steve is bloodied to convey the aspect of gore within the film and emphasise his zombie form. The effects in both scenes shows how the film has amplified its gore to fit the expectations of a modern audience which represents the ideologies of Janet Staiger as she wrote that films have to suit audiences over time as they become used to witnessing more horrific occurrences. The tragedy of 9/11 in 2001 had devastated people and made them tougher in what they can experience, so Dawn of the Dead subtly implied these events and used more severe gore in the film to suit its intended audience.

Dawn of the Dead analysis (2004)

This scene represents Propp’s character archetypes as it portrays two black males who are both very strong characters within the film, with Kenneth being conveyed as more dominant figure, thus both are easily identifiable regarding who fits the certain character conventions of horror (Kenneth as the male hero). Kenneth’s power is denoted by the expressionist angle used which places him closer to the camera and Andre is further in the background, making him appear seemingly smaller than Kenneth, thus suggesting his potential lack of importance in comparison. The use of low key lighting conveys a sense of uneasiness which relates to the topic being discussed by the characters. Here, Andre is wearing a black t-shirt, portraying a darker past - which we know to have criminal activity involved, particularly stealing. Kenneth on the other hand is wearing white which signifies the good in him and reflects the positivity of his career as a policeman. In this scene, he also represents the notion of kindness by talking to Andre regarding personal matters, almost as if he had adopted a father-like figure. Earlier on, Kenneth had initial thoughts of abandoning the group to find his brother, however he changed his mind and decided to stay - in the rest of the film, he tries to protect the other survivors, combining his knowledge and good-nature which makes him a central character.

Dawn of the Dead analysis (1979)

The film conveys the fading relationship of Fran and Stephen who lack compassion and love towards each other, which is confirmed by the negative depiction of this scene. Despite they have had sex, both characters are directly looking away from one another, portraying a lack of affection to reinforce their breakdown as a couple; moreover, the use of low key lighting works to further this connotation. The conventions of horror are represented in this shot as it illustrates the theme of sex and the taboo and therefore reiterates Fran as an unconventional final girl. Furthermore, the negative aspects within her nature are signified through the lighting which silhouettes her body. It also contrasts Stephen’s character archetype negatively similarly to Fran’s as we would expect him to fit the connotations of a male hero, however he is unconventional in this sense due to his weakness, thus leading us to question his ability to protect his child. The nudity in this shot appeals to the Cultural Dominant Ideology of a male orientated audience, as emphasised by Laura Mulvey’s feminist viewpoint through her establishment of the ‘Male Gaze’ theory.

Choice of trailer type

The trailer we have have decided to create will be a highlights trailer, including conventional elements of our selected hybrid genre, focusing specifically on psychological horror with minimal aspects of gore. The reason for choosing a highlights trailer as opposed to a scene trailer is because they convey a wider variety of scenes from films more effectively, and therefore establish the narrative better. We also want to portray a range of horror conventions to reinforce our genre style, some of which include low key lighting, stereotypical character archetypes, jump scares, a slow to quick montage etc. We intend to adapt existing scenes, such as Mia whispering to her brother in Evil Dead, to add intertextual value within our trailer, thus adding audience appeal.  To deliver a successful trailer, we will focus on various editing concepts, particularly collision cutting to juxtapose scenes together which will work to create suspense and tension. The Conjuring (2013) trailer is an example of a psychological trailer which adapts a range of genre conventions, such a slow to quick montage which is incorporated with a jump scares to deliver a final sense of shock.

Thursday, 30 April 2015

Dawn of the Dead analysis (1979)


The ending scene to Dawn of the Dead shows the final characters as Fran and Peter, which challenges the character conventions of horror films. The final girl is stereotypically dark haired, with blondes being the victim early on and they tend to represent taboos, including having sex which Fran does, therefore making it incredibly rare at this time to have a final girl of this nature. It also goes against the Cultural Dominance Ideology as she smokes and drinks alcohol despite she is pregnant. The film depicts Peter as the male hero which is equally seen as an unusual and rare archetype to have in horror films, especially ones in this time period. influenced by George A Romero’s views on race. In the 1970s, audiences of certain people still had strongly racist views regarding people with other ethnic backgrounds, particularly in the south – adding conformity to Dawn of the Dead as it is set in Philadelphia, a city within Pennsylvania situated North-South of America. Only a small minority were coming to accept black people. Furthermore, this subtly hints at a potential interracial relationship between the two characters which was seen as a shocking aspect to introduce in 1970s culture. Although Fran conveys aspects of negativity, she represents a strong character as she has learned to fly a helicopter and fire a gun so she knows how to look after herself. The close up shot of Fran’s face portrays the notion of feeling lost and empty as Stephen has died and she does not know what may come of the future. Peter decided to stay with Fran despite having initial thoughts to commit suicide, perhaps showing his fear of death which is a recurring theme for films of this genre.

Dawn of the Dead analysis (1979)

The scene from Dawn of the Dead (1979) depicts how Stephen tries to represent himself as the male hero by shooting at a zombie, however he ultimately fails and Roger steps in. It portrays how the horror film is somewhat unconventional as we expect Stephen to be the male hero due to his good looks, but this ideal is reversed onto Peter who is a black protagonist – thus suggesting it is forward thinking for the horror genre. The scene builds tension as the zombie approaches Stephen, but seems to deliver comically when he shoots and misses. Furthermore, this indicates Romero’s influence as an auteur as he alters the conventional stereotypes associated with the horror genre which adds shock/surprise value to Dawn of the Dead. We somewhat empathise for Stephen as his relationship with Fran seems to be breaking down but throughout the film, he represents incompetence by causing the majority of problems that occur for the group which leads to his death. Both men obtain phallic weapons but Roger reflects his strength as he understands how to use the gun correctly, reinforcing his occupation within the army. He also seems to obtain intellectual strength as he develops well planned ideas with Peter to benefit the group.

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Psycho Scene Analysis

As Psycho was the first horror film ever made and despite the Hay’s Code’s influence it had over it, people were more terrified of the film in the era it was released in. Whereas in modern times, we have been subject to worse things and horror films have not been dominated by the Hays Code anymore, thus meaning they have become harsher. Janet Straiger supported this in her book Interpreting Films. The lighting behind the figure reflects on the water of the shower – connoting a point of view shot from Marion’s perspective. It also portrays the idea of Norman’s split personality from his schizophrenia and shows that some good may still be present in him. The notion of the silhouette not only signifies the killer’s dark side, but also works to conceal his identity which keeps us in suspense throughout the film, to deliver the shock of the truth at the end of the film. The lighting on the phallic symbol itself is fairly bright in comparison to the figure which emphasises a personal connection – as a gun would not have been as effective in this sense. The concept of the phallic symbol reinforces the idea of Norman’s lust for Marion and the grasp of jealousy that has overcome the mother and has influenced her murderous intention. Furthermore to this point, the stature of the killer connotes the brutality and sadistic nature of the murder.

Psycho Scene Analysis

In this scene, we see Norman watching Marion undress in an act of voyeurism, which supports Laura Mulvey’s ideological views that men like to look at women for visual pleasure. The concept of voyeurism further depicts Norman’s feelings towards Marion and hints at the idea that he is lonely with few opportunities to interact with others. Rather than speak to Marion directly about these feelings, he nervously watches her, as if he is hesitant to talk or see her directly- potentially due to his lack of communication with others. The lighting of the shot is limited and the element of darkness within a tight space plays on the fears of audience members. Again, it signifies the idea that Norman is confined from the real world and trapped by his mother The lighting further emphasises shadows which have been cast over Norman almost entirely, except for the small fragment of light flowing from the hole he is peering in, where Marion’s bedroom is – suggesting Marion still has a large amount of goodness in her despite her actions of stealing the money. Additionally, the small fraction of light on Norman’s face contradicts his darker side and portrays his split personality, and suggests he still has some good nature in him. The lighting effects contrast his actions and looking deeper, this seems to conform to the idea that his worse side has consumed the good and is clouding his judgement, which is why he is watching Marion as she undresses- for if he didn’t have schizophrenia, his actions may be reversed and more pleasant.

Psycho Scene Analysis

This particular scene introduces the concept of birds in the film, when we see Norman speaking to Marion about his mother. The birds on the wall take up a large section of the frame and their wing span seems overpowering, thus perhaps signifying the idea of predator VS prey. Norman reverses and contradicts the way we view him by seemingly being a representation of the predator, therefore connoting potential threat. As Marion mentions about putting his mother in a mad house, it is clear that Norman has become angry and his response combined with the low angle focusing on him represents his power over Marion. The way in which he responds gives us the impression that he has been in an institution, thus portraying the idea that Norman is isolated, lonely and potentially trapped. This is indicated through his words about his mother, speaking as if she is a liability whose needs are confining him to the hotel. Andrew Sarris’ auteur theory applies to Alfred Hitchcock as he was particularly influenced by montage films that used editing to craft emotion; an example of such film was Battleship Potemkin. Hitchcock has embraced and enhanced various techniques which are evident in Psycho, for instance this scene which focuses on a slow montage to create suspense for the audience, until the main build up further on. The low key lighting compliments these factors as the scene evokes a dark atmosphere that seems to foreshadow what is to come. This is also depicted by the shadows cast on the walls and ceilings, which in turn create tension for the audience. Roughly 90% of Norman’s face is dark, but a small fraction where the other half is present is brightly lit, emphasising his schizophrenia and split personality. Furthermore, the fragment of light signifies the notion that although he is a murderer, there is still some essence of good in him and this makes the audience sympathetic towards him.