Analysis of Shower Scene and Tower Scene

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Analysis of Shower Scene and Tower Scene

The shower scene in Psycho and the tower scene in Vertigo vastly compare, through Alfred Hitchcock’s uses of cinematography, music, lighting and the acting of the characters. All of which create effective amounts of suspense and tension within these scenes.

In the shower scene, Hitchcock’s use of a close-shot conveys immense terror in Marion as we as the audience can visualise the true extent of her suffering. Likewise, in vertigo, as “Madeline” runs up the tower stairs and the reality of the situation hits Johnny, the close up expression of his anxiety and fear become apparent, linking to that of Marion’s. In both reaction-shots, by seeing the characters in distressing conditions, we begin to feel fear and anxiety with them and come to terms with how terrible the situation is and how much tension is in the atmosphere.

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Hitchcock uses the low-angle shot in the tower scene to effectively make the tower appear larger than it already is, thus also making it seem more threatening. The scene being a POV shot shows that we are viewing the tower through Johnny’s perspective, and the fact that it is made to look taller gives the impression that Johnny’s vertigo is already occurring before he has entered the tower. In psycho, the silhouette shot of Marion’s murderer is also taken from a lower angle, which subsequently makes the killer seem even more threatening and terrorising, creating even greater tension and ...

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