EC: Technical Analysis: Psycho (Kubrick, 1980)

Duration of Shot (seconds)	Camera distance, angle, and movement/editing	Mise-en-scene	Sound	Connotation
0:00-0:07	Mid shot showing upper body. Tracking shot.	Character centred in frame. Limped walk. Holding axe. Extreme facial expressions.	Non-diegetic harsh sounds. Builds tension. Crescendo	The character is a psychopathic murderer, and a significant event is about to occur.
0:07-0:11	Static shot	Female character centred in frame. She fails to climb out of a window	Soundtrack continues	Female character is in danger
0:11-0:13	Mid-shot	Young boy is shown safely outside the house. Facial expressions show fear	Soundtrack continues	The boy feels that he is in danger, and is worried for someone’s safety
0:13-0:19	Walking shot from behind	Character shows no expression. Still holding the axe	Soundtrack continues Dialogue: “Come out, come out wherever you are”	Character is on a psychotic rampage
0:19-0:22	Mid-shot. Static, from behind	Camera inside. Woman still trying to escape. Frantic and fearful body language	Soundtrack continues	The woman is now panicking, and fearful for her life
0:22-0:26	Camera is positioned outside. Shows window from a low shot	Woman is trying to escape through the window	Soundtrack continues Woman’s breathing is selected in sound mix	The woman is under extreme pressure, and is willing to take extreme measures to escape
0:26-0:41	Medium close up	Psychopathic character side on to door. Aggressive facial expressions	Soundtrack is faded to selectively highlight the character trying to open the door	The psychopath is getting excited as he gets closer to the woman
0:41-0:44	Medium close up. Upper body of female character	Woman has stopped trying to escape through the window	Soundtrack continues Dialogue: “I can’t get out”	The woman is desperate for any help as she is out of options
0:44-0:54	Long shot	Child leaves mother and runs out of shot	Soundtrack continues Dialogue: “Run! Quick!”	Dangerous situation Panic
0:54-1:00	Medium close up	Male character centred. Facial expressions shown. Creepy smile	Soundtrack continues Dialogue: “Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in”	Psychopathic dark humour is employed to show the character’s mental instability
1:00-1:05	Tracking shot	Female character shown to be panicking. She finds a knife and holds it tightly	Soundtrack continues Sound mix highlights knife being picked up	The female character is now choosing to stop hopelessly trying to escape and call for help, and is now ready to resist
1:05-1:15	Repeated medium close up of male character’s face	Disturbing facial expressions as before	Soundtrack continues Dialogue: “Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin… Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff”	Psychopathic dark humour extended as the fairy-tale reference is repeated
1:15-1:16	Mid-shot from behind	Male psychopath starts to swing the axe into the bathroom door	Soundtrack continues Dialogue: “And I’ll blow your house in!”	Dark humour continued themed around destroying the house, which he is doing
1:16-1:24	Mid-shot side on	The axe is shown hitting the door, causing it to crack	Soundtrack continues Sound of axe hitting the door is highlighted in sound mix	The psychopath is closing in on the female target
1:24-1:47	Mid-shot. Static frame	Woman’s facial expressions show fear and desperation	Soundtrack continues Sound of axe hitting the door is highlighted in sound mix The woman screams	The woman is fearing her life, and is desperate for any way to stop it
1:47-1:54	Hole in the door is centred in frame	Male character is shown to be aggressive and showing emotion - anger	Soundtrack continues Sound of axe hitting the door is highlighted in sound mix	The psychopath is now angry that he has not reached his victim yet
1:54-2:00	Repeated mid-shot of male character swinging the axe at the bathroom door	The hole in the door has been enlarged. He is still winging the axe at the door	Soundtrack continues Sound of axe hitting the door is highlighted in sound mix The woman is screaming and begging	The woman has lost all hope and is now completely out of options and ideas. She is no longer spirited.