Psycho (1960) third image analysis

In this scene, the context of the film is illustrated dramatically through the idea of “Ed Gein”. Whilst the news of Ed Gein and his psychotic actions was circulating America, Psycho (1960) came out as a film and demonstrated the disturbing actions he did. This made the film personal to the audience and made the narrative even more frightening. Bearing this in mind, I feel that “Janet Staiger’s” theories of “audience studies” relates to this particular shot by virtue of having to fully understand the target audience at the time of the film being released.

In this scene, as the spectators establish that Norman is dressed up as his mother, his schizophrenic personality has been made aware and the idea of him being a transvestite made the audience in 1960 feel uncomfortable. The collision cut from both quiet to loud and slow action to fast pace connotes the personality of Norman and how his character is the serial killer.

The lighting used is extremely dramatic due to a light bulb swinging above the corpse’s head. As the light swings, the motivated lighting alters from low key lighting to high key lighting, covering half of the face and making it more atmospheric. As the shadows cast over the corpse’s face, the effect gives the impression that her eyes are moving from side to side, watching the action, alive.