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.