Psycho - Mise-en-scene Breakdown & Analysis

Psycho – Mise-en-scene

The mise en scene within the movie is one of the most powerful parts that help to generate the suspenseful atmosphere. One aspect of the mise en scene that Alfred Hitchcock used to create a sense of danger is the lighting. For example the light in Norman’s parlour is dim lighted. This shows the audience that Norman perhaps has a dark personality. This dark lighting also hints to the viewer that Norman is a recluse and doesn’t fit in with society. Also when Marion sits down in the parlour, only one side of her face is seeing able due to the dark lighting. This suggests that Marion is in a potentially dangerous place and that Norman is potentially a threat to her.

Another key aspect of the mise en scene that Hitchcock uses is the Stairs. The stairs within Norman Bate’s house play a key role in helping to generate the suspenseful atmosphere. When the characters travel up and down the mysterious stairs, it makes the characters seem extremely vulnerable, that anything can be waiting on the next floor of the silent building. Also, when the inspector gets stabbed, he falls down the stairs in slow motion. This done to emphasise how tall the stairs are, while making the scene more dramatic. Also, having the scene in slow motion places more importance on the mysterious killer, giving the audience more time to think about whom it is.

Another very effective piece of mise en scene is the owls that are within Norman’s parlour. These owls are placed in the darkness just above Norman when he is sitting down. This is done to emphasise just how weird Norman is. However, some of the owls are in an aggressive pose, perhaps representing how Norman is going to attack the vulnerable prey (Marion).