Cinematic Techniques In Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho

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The cascading water of a shower, a ghostly scream, and eerie string acoustics; these are just a few of the sounds utilized to create one of the most recognizable scenes in film history. Accompanied with masterful close-up shots and cuts, the iconic shower segments from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho not only serves as the climax of the film, but also the most notorious murder sequence in cinematic history. While many would argue that the piercing shrieks from the victim or the shadowy murderer is the most terrifying part of this scene; the true horror lies Hitchcock's use the camera. Through the manipulation of carefully placed sounds, camera shots, and cuts, Hitchcock along with the film’s editor, George Tomasini, create a visually striking sequence