Psycho- murder of Marion Crane

This famous shower sequence comes from Alfred Hitchcock's powerful yet complex psychological thriller, Psycho.This suspenseful thriller uses themes of corruptibility the deadly effects of money. Hitchcock also guides the audience into identify with the main character who is the luckless Marion Crane and then with that character's murderer Norman Bates.Marion Crane is the generic femme fatale showing deviance who could lead those around her into dangerous situations. Although it is one of the most frightening films ever made it still has elements of dark comedy.

                                           The murder of Marion Crane is one of the most famous murders in thrillers that has inspired other directors because of how well it creates terror and suspense at the same time.This particular location of this murder is rather daring for it's time because it appeared to show Marion Crane nude, but it never actually does which could be deemed provocative for that time.Another aspect of this famous scene that was shocking for it's era was the fact that the leading female character was killed off very early in the film, which was very unexpected.
                                         At the start of the shower scene the audience follows into the bathroom, there is then a medium close up of her undressing which leaves the audience to feel uncomfortable because it is as if we are intruding into this private space. This cuts to an eye level medium shot of her cleansing herself in the shower, like she is washing away her sins and guilt. A low angle shot from Marion's point of view is them shown of the water gushing down, at that moment the only sound heard is the running water which could distract the audience and Marion if someone is nearby.

                                           The brutality of Marion's murder also shocks the audience due to how dramatically the scene changes from her normally having a shower to a slow entrance of a dark figure which suddenly cuts to Marion being horrifically murdered. This quick cut is very effective as it would have taken the audience by surprise and brought the suspense up suddenly to jolt the audience. Also in the mise-en-scene you see a dark figure lurking behind the shower curtain which is the enigma of the scene, the audience won't know whether it is just a shadow or if there's someone else there, this adds tension to everything that's happening. The purpose of this enigma is to add suspense to this film and to also leave the audience tense and feeling rather vulnerable as they are left in fear of the unknown. Diegetic sound is shown throughout this scene of the water gushing out of the shower, the noise of the shower drowns out any other sound meaning that she would be completely unaware of what might happen to her, making the murder more shocking and not expected. 

                                    As she turns in response to the feel and sound of the shower curtain being torn aside you see a look of pure horror erupt in her face. Non-diegetic is played in the background of the violin screech soundtrack which contrasts with the diegetic more subtle sound of the shower. The sound is shocking and sounds as if something horrific is happening repetitively which could therefore symbolise being stabbed a number of times which ironically happens. An extreme close up shot is then shown to draw attention to Marion's first reaction to the murderer, it highlights the sound of her scream and intensify's the terror of the murder. As close up shots enable the audience to get to know the character, this shot leaves the audience in fright as they are close to the character literally so therefore feel the horror of the murder. The consistent use of close ups inject the mise-en-scene with relentless horror.

                                                                     You see the knife slashing into her as if tearing at the screen, ripping the film which leaves the audience feeling vulnerable so therefore intensifying the terror. A series of shots are shown in this sequence which build up the tension to lead to a dramatic moment. The audience are rushed with a series of quick cuts, for example the blur of the shower water, and the hand pulling the shower curtain back. You can only catch a glimpse of the enigma who is the murderer which adds even more suspense as the audience will then identify with him and therefore feel more frightened. Once Marion had been murdered you see shadow of her across the shower curtain fall down, the brightness of the bathroom is almost blinding which could symbolise the shock of what just happened, it is also dream like meaning that surely something that shocking wasn't real. 

       All of these aspects including the location and use of close up shots reinforce generic conventions and add suspense and terror because first of all the close ups enable the audience to notice the emotions of the character and clearly see their distress. An example of a powerful close up shot is once Marion was murdered and she sinks to the floor the final shot from that scene is of her dead eye.Sudden effective shots happen before the final extreme close up, for example it goes from the shower curtain being town down and then you see the transition from the hole of the drainage pipe to Marion Crane's dead eyes. A high angle close up of the plughole is shown, which is sucking up the water and Marion's blood which suggest that her life has gone down the drain. Close up shots enable the audience to see the emotion of that character and this one is terrifying due to the fact all you can see is an extreme close up her lifeless eye. The shower location could be a generic location as the victim is left unknown of what could happen to them which adds tension, and leaves the audience in suspense. The isolated motel is also a generic thriller convention for many other thrillers and horrors.