There were thirty-six shots in the shower scene between 0:40 and 1:30. (Many of them were realized slightly high or low to show the difference of eight between the two characters.) This is every shot, including a description:
1. medium close-up; eye-level; she is showering and enjoying the warm water
2. medium close-up/over the shoulder; slightly high; she continues to shower as the man behind her, who’s holding a knife, opens up the curtains while the camera turns to a medium close-up of him, also at eye-level
3. medium close-up; eye-level; she turns around in fear
4. close-up; eye-level; she starts to scream
5. extreme close-up (of her mouth); eye-level; she is screaming
6. medium close-up; slightly low; he is raising the knife and trying to stab her
7. medium close-up; slightly high; she is screaming and trying to resist him
8. medium close-up; eye-level; he is raising the knife back, once again trying to stab her
9. extreme close-up/behind (her back); eye-level; she is trying to resist the stab
10. two shot medium; high; they are going back and forth
11. close-up; eye-level; she is screaming
12. two shot medium; high; they are going back and forth
13. close-up; eye-level; she continues to scream
14. two shot medium; high; they are going back and forth
15. medium close-up; eye-level; he is raising the knife back, once again trying to stab her
16. close-up; eye-level; she is getting stabbed and is showing extreme pain
17. medium close-up; eye-level; he is raising the knife back, trying to stab her
18. close-up; eye-level; she is getting stabbed and is showing extreme pain
19. close-up; low; he is raising the knife and stabbing her
20. close-up; eye-level; she is getting stabbed and crying
21. close-up; low; he is raising the knife and stabbing her
22. close-up; eye-level; she is crying
23. close-up; low; he is raising the knife and stabbing her
24. close-up (of her stomach); eye-level; she is getting directly stabbed in the stomach
25. close-up; eye-level; she is in fear and crying as she is being stabbed in the stomach
26. medium close-up (of the shower rim); low; showing just his arm with the knife aiming at her, again
27. close-up (of the side of her back); eye-level; she is getting directly stabbed in the chest
28. medium close-up; eye-level; she is screaming in pain
29. medium close-up (of the bottom half of her legs); high; the blood is streaming down her body into the drain
30. close-up; eye-level; she is trying to turn away
31. medium close-up (of the bottom half of her legs); high; the blood is streaming down her body into the drain
32. close-up (of the shadow of her hand); eye-level; she is starting to lose so much energy because of the blood loss
33. close-up/behind (of half of the back of his head and his arm; eye-level; raising his knife and aiming to stab her
34. medium; hip; a woman in a robe desperately running out the door
35. extreme close-up (of her hand); eye-level; her hand is slowing tracing down the wall as she falls
36. close-up; eye-level; she is losing strength and falling
I think that Alfred Hitchcock chose to shoot the “shower scene” with many quick shots and abrupt cuts to increase the intensity as she was getting stabbed, with many of the cuts increasing in speed symbolizing the “faster” she is getting killed. It also tenses people when they here abrupt noise that accompanies the shot, play there are so many things happening in a short time span that it creates and feeling of panic.
I think that the “shower scene” is generally regarded as one of the most famous sequences in 20th century American film because there were so many abrupt shots and cuts in the sequence which were very effective in making the scene have a very anxious and panicked tense for the audience. The scene was also very traumatizing which I believe also allied in its fame.
The first shot and the second shot are juxtaposed against one another in an interesting manner. These shots illustrate the Kuleshov effect because the first shot is very relaxing and the character is happy, while in the beginning of the second shot she as well. The man also appears to be behind the curtain but no fear is established until the shower curtain is abruptly opened and you can see the man holding the knife. It establishes and instant fear.
What I can take from this sequence and use in my own filmmaking is that the type of shots as well as the editing make a big difference in the atmosphere and effectiveness in the story-telling of a scene. For example, a more happy and relaxed scene may have one consistent shot with few cuts, as well as slow and calming music. A more scary and tense scene may have the opposite. Each grab the attention of the audience in a certain manner, making them feel like they are “in the scene” and experiencing the same emotions.
TV & Film 