In class, you asked us if we thought the first or second murder scene in Psycho was more suspenseful. Initially I thought that the second scene was, because the music suggested that something was about to happen, but then I realized that because of this, it was kind of obvious and therefore less exciting. Also, because a murder had already happened on the property by the "woman" who lived in the house the PI walked into, the audience was completely expecting the second murder. Looking back to the shower scene, no music was played until the "psycho" came into the bathroom and killed Marion, which created generated more of a shock to the audience because no one saw it coming. It was eerily calm in the bathroom for a while, as Marion was innocently taking a shower. Some people may have saw it coming but I did not until the camera was on the door behind the shower curtain and then it all happened. The point of a thriller is to be sitting on the edge of your seat the whole time waiting for the next big thing to happen, so in a way I was viewing it that way in this scene, because usually something happens in the shower, in any movie. It's just a classic position of being completely vulnerable so that anything can happen and you can't escape. If it was just a little part of the plot, like if Marion was just taking a shower to wash the day off, then the movie might just have shown Marion getting out of the shower, but it was an important scene as soon as Marion flushed the evidence of her transaction down the toilet.
What other factors make a scene suspenseful?
I agree with your perspective on how when the music and camera movement makes the scene more dramatic for suspense its almost too obvious. The scenes that were most successful for their thrill affect is when they lead in slowly, quietly with no major hints as to what is coming up next. This leaves the audience in anticipation and fear of the unknown of whats coming. Compared feeling within the music and camera angle that something is about to happen.
ReplyDeleteI agree that since one person had already been murdered than it was obvious that when Detective Martin Arbogast entered into the mansion, he was not coming out. I also agree that the shower is a place of vulnerability; there is nowhere to go. Due to the fact that Marion Crane could not run or hide is what made the scene exciting; she had to face her assailant. In answer to your question I think dialogue and body language are two factors that make a scene suspenseful.
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