Psycho Image Analysis 1

This scene from Psycho gives us our first insight into the serial killer Norman Bates with a low, expressionist angle emphasizing his power over Marion while also giving him a slightly sinister atmosphere. The bird of prey mounted in the corner of the room suggests that Norman is just as dangerous and that Marion is his prey. This is more obvious as Marion’s surname is Crane which is a type of bird. Also Norman says that she “eats like a bird” which further suggests this.

 The room has low key lighting to make the scene darker and to emphasize the shadows of Norman and the birds of prey. However this contrasts with Norman’s speech in the film which portrays him as more likeable and vulnerable than his Ed Gein real-life counterpart which is who this film is based on.

The fact that it is based on this serial killer shocked audiences even more as it was still very recent (Gein was arrested in 1957) and due to the first television news reports the real life horror was now more accessible to people all over America. It was not just restricted to the state.