The opening sequence to Psycho is a classic example of Alfred Hitchcock using the title sequence as a way of automatically placing the audience into a state of uneasiness. The constant lines that slide across the screen may be representing the cuts of a knife. This idea is used throughout the sequence as it looks as if the screen is being constantly sliced apart. This obviously relates to one of the film's themes, Murder.

The music used on the sequence is very fast paced and exhillerating. This builds up the adrenaline of the audience and almost shocks them as it is very loud and powerful. The constant "hits" of the violin strings that are used have also been chosen carefully as they represent the stabbing of a knife. We know this because, later in the famous "shower scene", the same idea is used with the music to represent the stabs.

This title sequence is good because it almost subliminally puts the audience in fear by using symbols of murder and knives.