The title sequence for the film Psycho uses minimal text and imagery to create intrigue and suspense. Green unstable bars allude to the psychological instability of the film's characters. Incidental music and quick transitions between shots build tension. Limited information is provided, leaving the audience eager to learn more during the film. Mysterious and eerie elements like low lighting, a secluded house location, and obscured text establish the horror genre and alert viewers to upcoming tension.

1. Micro analysis
Credit over
blank screen
title
sequence.
White bold writing on
black background to
create an enigma by
having minimal
information.
The use of the green
unstable bars, links to the
film title of psycho, which
illustrates that he is
psychologically unstable.
The green on a black
background stands out
and creates a warning,
alerting the audience.
The use of credit over
title sequence limits
the audience’s
knowledge of the film,
not giving them much
to work with so that
they are then eager to
watch the film.
Incidental music is
used, which is the
fundamental
element that makes
the title captivating,
because it creates
suspense.
The parallel lines
positions the audience to
understand that the plot is
established by reading
inbetween the lines.
Only some parts of the title is visible which adds
obscurity of the name because we can’t make out
what it is, indicating to the audience, the tension in
the film.
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/psycho-
1998/

2. Micro analysis
The titles are
written in
white, to allow
it to stand
from the dark
background.
The transitions used
between the shots in the
title sequence are quick and
clean cut to create
Lowkey and dull lighting,
used throughout the
opening scene to create a
tense atmosphere for the
Use of scenery
(black and
white), straight
away gives the
audience the
sense of
mystery and
eeriness, which
also immediately
establishes the
genre
A medium shot
of the house
which suggests
it’s a secluded
location which
conforms to the
codes and
convention of a
horror film.
Music throughout the
title sequences helps
create a sense of
tension
Discrete
title
sequence