Cinematic Techniques In Alfred Hitchcock's Film Psycho

Director Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho is arguably one of his most famous films. His use of various cinematic techniques, such as montage, and actress Janet Leigh’s contribution to the emotional impact, made Psycho a film that is respected in cinematic history.
Psycho is a film that showcases the use of montage. Throughout the film, the use of long shot, close up, close up, close up, creates a collision between the scenes of the movie. For example, when Marion Crane, portrayed by Janet Leigh, is packing her suitcase to leave Phoenix, we see a long shot of her walking around the room collecting her things, then a close up of her face looking at the envelope of $40,000 she embezzled from her job, then a close up shot of the envelope lying on her bed, and then back to a close up Crane’s face as she looks confused if she should take the money and skip town. Additionally, the use of point-of-view shots allowed audience viewers to feel as …show more content…
However, her contribution to the film added to the emotional impact. Her use of simple facial expressions of confusion, shock, and fear among others, allowed viewers to understand the mood of the scene despite it being a close up with no clues from the surroundings. Throughout the film she appeared quiet, was scripted short sentences, but during the shower scene, she screamed loudly and seemed genuinely afraid for her life despite the fact she was acting and of course, not actually murdered. Her performance convinced audiences to become invested in her welfare as if she were a real person trying to take the money to her boyfriend so they could marry and audience members “followed” her on her journey. Although her characterization contributed the film, Hitchcock’s cinematic techniques of camera angles and music are what created the experience of a horror flick and left a lasting impact

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Cinematic Techniques In Alfred Hitchcock's Film Psycho

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