Initial Ideas for Thriller - Planning

Initial Ideas

For our initial ideas we made a few mind maps on powerpoint to get down as many ideas for setting, props and sound/audio that we could think of. These are our mind maps on powerpoint presentation.

Shower Scene from Pyscho and Essay

How does Alfred Hitchcock in “Psycho” create the “shower scene” to be so effective in conforming to the conventions of the thriller genre?


The film “Psycho” is a 1960 American thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock which is based on the 1959 novel by Robert Bloch. The film depicts an encounter between a secretary “Marion Crane” who finds her self hiding in a motel owned by “Normal Bates” after stealing money and running away from an employer. “Psycho” initially received mixed reviews; some suggested in particular “the shower scene” contained filming which was far too shocking and graphic. However, now “Psycho is considered one of Hitchcock’s best films winning several Academy Awards and being praised for being great cinematic art

Alfred Hitchcock effectively incorporates the conventions of the thriller genre through mise-en-scene for example “Marion Crane” in the film represents what we would consider the stereotypical woman victim. She has blonde hair, make up and wearing a silk dressing gown which all suggest the typical females that are seen in comparison to men more weak and fragile. Therefore setting “Marion Crane” up as the perfect victim which is a convention that is important in thrillers. The setting is also a typical, hotel room that is effective in this thriller as it subverts away from the usual conventions. We expect an attack to happen in a more dark and dangerous setting therefore it is more of a shock to the viewers when drama happens in a typical setting.

Adding to this, Hitchcock’s use of camera movement and skills is another convention that makes the “shower scene” so effective. Before the attack actually happens there are several mid shots of “Marion” in the shower as it is too much inappropriate content to have a full shot. Further more, during the actual attack; Hitchcock very cleverly uses a wide variety and range of shots to interpret the murder to the audience without actually showing any violent content. For example there are several close ups of Marion to show her reaction clearly, also numerous extreme close ups of her screaming, her hand and at the end of the scene her eye to show she is actually dead. There are also high angles to show the victim weak and helpless, birds eye views shots and point of view to show the attack from Marion’s view. Here Hitchcock uses editing skills such as straight cuts and shot reverse shot to switch from each shot quickly which is effective in interpreting the death without actually showing her getting stabbed. To build tension in this scene there is an establishing shot used to show Marion and the murderer approaching her from behind the shower scene by creating this excitement and tension is a main convention of thrillers and therefore why Hitchcock has made “the shower scene” so effective.

Use of sound is also a convention that is effectively incorporated into the “Psycho” to build suspense for example at the start of the scene non-diajetic traditional, calm music that was popular around that time is played to settle the audience and make them believe nothing is going to happen. Following this, there is only the diajetic sounds of the shower running to create a more silent feel to the scene, it brings the audience in to create tension and suspense that when the attack happens the shocking, dramatic music that is played suddenly gives them more of a shock and surprise. This element of the thriller is also one that conforms to what we expect of the conventions and is therefore why the “shower scene” is so effective.

Overall Alfred Hitchcock creates an effective scene by conforming to the conventions of a thriller, by using dramatic sound to surprise and create tension for the audience. Also by using technical camera shots and movements, giving a wide variety and including straight cuts and shot reverse shot is a clever way of interpreting the attack without actually showing Marion getting stabbed and murdered.