How is gender represented in Shallow Grave?

How is gender represented in Shallow Grave?

One way gender is represented is that men are the more aggressive gender. This is evident when a character asks Juliet to dance and David then becomes aggressive towards him. This is stereotypical of the male gender as they are seen to be the more aggressive gender out the two as well as the more violent. The violent nature of David is evident when he says the other character is going to “end up in a f...ing bin bag”. This shows males as more aggressive and violent as David is being threatening. This matches the stereotypes as men are seen as more violent.

Another way gender is represented is through the costumes they wear. This is more obvious with Juliet as she is wearing a very low cut dress. This stereotypes women as liking to show off their body as well as being more concerned about their appearance as she is wearing a lot of makeup. However, Juliet is not the only one who is stereotyped in this way as David also is stereotyped. This is because David is wearing a smart suit and proper gentlemen are stereotyped to be well dressed and to wear very smart clothing such as ties which David is doing. This is a contrast to Alex as his clothes are more untidy and casual.

Another way males are stereotyped is when Alex is smoking. At this point, only Alex is smoking and no one else is. This makes him seem less concerned about his health than Juliet as men are not seen to care about their body as much as women do. However, this is not the only way he is stereotyped. Another way he is stereotyped is with his costume. Men are sometimes seen not to look after their appearance as much as women. This is most evident when Alex is pouring them drinks as his costume has become untidy and scruffy as his shirt is untucked and his tie is undone. This could fit the stereotype of men not caring as much about their appearance as women.

However, at one point, Juliet goes against the stereotype of women. This is when Alex and Juliet go to dance. When Alex is thrown on the floor, Juliet comes and stands over the top of him. This reverses the stereotypes as the shotis then switched to Alex’s point of view as he is looking up at Juliet on a low angle. This makes her seem the dominant character between the two of them and also makes her seem more intimidating as she seems to be much bigger than him and also more aggressive as her foot is on his chest.

Another way that gender is represented is women as fun loving. This is evident when Juliet tells Alex that they should dance. This shows them as more fun loving as a male did not come up with the idea and it was Juliet’s idea. This makes her seem more free willed than men as she wants to enjoy herself more than what the males do. This is evident when David does not join them on the dance floor and is sitting on his own. This makes him seem like he does not care about having fun and wants to be on his own. This fits the stereotype that men are individuals and only wants to do what they want to and do not like to have the same type of fun women do. This also reverses the stereotype again as she tells Alex to go dance with her and she is taking control again.

Another way gender is represented is women as more happy than men. This is seen most of the way through this scene. This is however, most evident when all the characters are sitting together. We can see this though the facial expressions on the characters faces as Juliet is happy all the way though whereas David looks angry and concerned all the way through. This is also shown when Alex calls Cameron over and then says he thought he was someone else. This made Juliet laugh at the joke and Alex as he is the one who caused it, but David seems unhappy with it and does not even react to it. This also stereotypes men as being emotionless as Juliet is constantly happy whereas David does not seem happy thought the whole scene. All the emotions are shown through mid-shots and close ups.

A final way that gender is represented is when Alex is pouring them drinks. This shows men as drunkards as he slightly drunk when he is doing it. This fits the stereotype of men drinking alcohol all the time and not caring what they do to their surrounding people. This is also evident when Alex calls out that he wanted the children put down as he is shown as not caring about other people’s feelings as men are stereotyped to do. Diegetic sound is also used with the drinks running into each other and the music that is being played in the background

In conclusion, both genders are represented through stereotype within this scene as they are both shown to be what they are stereotyped to be. This makes both genders seem as if they are what they actually seen as in the public eye. This creates the message that men and women are complete contrasts to each other, as men, to women are seen to be violent as David is seen as here and women are seen as calm and free willed such as Juliet is here.

 

 

How does Thompson create an atmosphere if threat in the schoolyard scene in Cape Fear? (1962)

How does Thompson create an atmosphere if threat in the schoolyard scene in Cape Fear? (1962)

Thompson creates a threatening atmosphere of threat in the schoolyard scene with the use of diegetic sound. This is evident when Cady is walking by the fountain in the park. The hissing of the fountain is used to create threat as it symbolises a snake’s hiss which is seen as danger. Snakes are also seen as the devil in Christianity as well as clever, such as Cady himself and his means of harassing the family. This creates threat as it tells us that Cady is a dangerous man and that he should be avoided.

Another way that Thompson creates atmosphere in the schoolyard scene is with the diegetic sound of footsteps and the differences between the two characters. This is most evident when the janitor, who looks like Cady in this part, is chasing Nancy though the school. This creates a sense of threat as Nancy’s footsteps are light and rather clumsy, which gives her a sense of vulnerability against Cady. This is because his footsteps are heavy and almost sound as if they are in a rhythm. This creates threat as Cady’s footsteps are more brutal, such as Cady himself. This is threatening as since his footsteps are so heavy, it makes Nancy’s seem rather small and that Cady is in control of the situation.

Thompson also uses mise-en-scene to create a threatening atmosphere. This is more evident when Cady grabs the bars when he is outside but also when Nancy is running in the schoolyard as she is behind the bars, creating a feeling of not escaping and being imprisoned. This relates to Cady as he has just got out of prison and when he grabs the bars, it seems as if he is in prison again. This could show that he is a criminal and that he should still be in jail. Thompson also uses the mise-en-scene again with the darkness as Nancy enters to locker room. This creates a sense of threat as there is more darkness in the room than there is light. Also darkness is seen as threatening and that light is not, creating a threatening atmosphere with a lack of light.

Thompson also uses many shot types to make Cady appear more threatening. This is particularly evident when the janitor is going through the school after Nancy as most shots appear to be mid shots but of the legs and groin of the janitor. This creates a threatening atmosphere as Cady was originally in jail for raping a girl, which was what he threatened to do to Nancy. This creates a threatening atmosphere as it creates a type of tension that seems threatening which poses us the questions “Will Nancy get out?” and “will Cady catch Nancy and what will he do?”. This makes it threatening as we do not know if that is the only thing Cady is going to do or if he is going to kill her afterwards. This makes us feel sympathy for Nancy

Thompson also uses composition to create a threatening atmosphere. This is most evident at the start of the clip as all the people in the park and outside of the school are walking away from Nancy apart from Cady. This creates a sense of threat as being all on your own is not a nice thing to be as it means that there is no-one to help you if you get into trouble but also no-one to witness a crime if it happens to you. This makes it threatening as all the other characters have abandoned Nancy and left her on her own. This also makes her seem vulnerable as there is no-one to help her against Cady.

 Thompson also uses a low angle shot to create a sense of threat. This happens when Cady grabs Nancy as she runs out of school into his arms. We then get a low angle, yet from Nancy’s point of view, of Cady’s torso. This creates a threatening atmosphere as it makes Cady seem the dominant character out of the two and makes him seem bigger than what he is and also makes Nancy seem vulnerable as she is small in comparison to Cady, making him seem threatening and intimidating. Cady also holds Nancy very tightly and close to him. This tells us that if he does not get what he wants he will do it by force.
 

Thompson also uses a prop as a threatening item within this scene. When Cady takes his cigar out of his mouth and points it at Nancy, it creates threat. This is because the cigar represents a sexual theme as he takes out then puts it in his mouth, creating threat as that was what he was going to do to Nancy if he caught her. This is threatening as it makes the whole idea of the rape worse as he uses a cigar to represent it.

How does Wilder convey the charecters and their relationships in the penultimate scene of double indemnity?

How does Wilder convey the characters and their relationship in the penultimate scene of double indemnity?

Wilder uses cinematography to convey the relationship between the two characters.  This is particularly evident when Walter is standing behind Phyllis when she is sitting down. This shows us how their relationship is because Walter seems to have his hands almost round her neck; this seems to show Phyllis as the person without power as she also seems smaller than Walter as she is sitting down. This gives us the idea that Walter is in charge of their relationship as he seems to be the bigger, more dominant force at the time. This means that their relationship could be described as being controlled by Walter at this time as Phyllis is the more vulnerable out of the two.  This also seems to make Walter appear in the light more, this makes him appear as the good character out of the two of them. However, this is not the only use of cinematography in this scene; another use of it is present when they are in the same shot as each other. This is evident especially near the end and start. It mainly shows Walter and Phyllis together in the same scene where they are talking about how they have an apparent love for each other. This gives us the idea that their relationship is unstable because when they are having a slight argument or disagreement, they are not in the same scene but when they are talking about their “love” they are in the same scene, this creates a physical barrier when they are arguing, but in this scene, it cuts fairly quickly between the two which tells us that they are unstable and that they may not always agree or like each other.

Wilder also uses many setting ideas from an expressionist mise-en-scene. This is  evident  when Walter originally walks into the room and we get a extreme long shot of it. This is more evident than due to the heavy use of shadow in that part of the scene, however, it is more evident when before he walks into the room and we can see his shadow on the wall, this gives us a feeling of mystery and relates heavily back to German expressionist cinema which also was mainly based on mystery and shadow. This shows their relationship by it being a dark and sinister relationship that involves plots and murder, this means that it is a mysterious relationship where they are trying to believe each other about everything but they may not agree or believe each other showing that this is a relationship without trust and belief in each other. Walters shadow also relates to the Freudian idea of a doppelgänger as his life when he is with Phyllis and crime could be compared to it as he has the more sinister side in which he is involved with her, this consists of murder and sin as it is behind somebody’s back, and his other life where he is an insurance salesman, these are both complete opposites to each other so work well with the doppelgänger idea.

Wilder also uses ideas from expressionist mise-en-scene again with the idea of dividing the area with sharp angles and lines. This is more evident when Walter enters as we can see behind Phyllis that there are shadows of straight lines from the venetian blinds and corners from furniture. This shows their relationship as a dangerous one as there are many sharp edges and lines involved. It is a dangerous relationship as there are many items within it that connote this, such as:- murder, crime and insurance plots. This means that they are living a dangerous life and could get into trouble at any moment.

There are many themes that are used from the noir generic signifiers. One of these is the idea of crimes of passion. This is evident all the way through as the whole story is about how a man loves a woman and how he’ll do anything for her. This shows their relationship as a crime itself and as an abnormal relationship due to numerous problems and plots within it. Another theme that is present in most film noir is the idea of deception.

      

 

Conventions within thrillers

Conventions

 

 

Camerawork

Typrical shots

lots of close ups and mid shots to show reactions and emotions.
close ups also give a sense of claustraphobia and involvement.

Composition/Framing

Exclusion and inclusion of objects to create tension.

Use of camera movement/Angles+1st person/ 3rd person

1st used to show a sense of invlovement and empathy.

Editing

Transitions and use to structure narrative

Dissolves to show time passing or movement of place in the movie world
Also fade to black or white is commonly used for flashbacks
quick cuts are used to create tension
Non-chronological order, used to create tension. usually used in killer/victim stories where they are trying to identify the killer.

Convetions

How they start, titles and what should happen at the start

titles, actors, directors, whos involved etc also we get an ident (people of who published and funded the movie) and obviously the title of the movie.
The start should also have an introduction to the key character(s)
Also a atmosphere should be created.
Plot intro-key events.

Sound

Diagetic/Non diagetic used, voice overs, dialogue and music use

Music-reflects the atmosphere, this enhances the plot, ambient sounds, better to avoid dialogue.

Mise-en-scene

Settings, props, actors, costume and lighting

Props used in the plot such as knives and guns
-setting-realism, isolated
-Males-authority/ power/ killer/ hero
-Women-damsels in distress
-use of light and dark for atmosphere

Narrative

Typical story

revenge usually has crime and justice in it

Typical opening, chronolgy, perspective, flash back/forward, dual narrative

used for a psychological effect.

Subgenres

Types

techno, supernatural, religious, crime, action, psychological, film noir, sci-fi, conspiracy, disaster, eco, medical, mystery, political, romance, spy.

Prelim Evaluation

Prelim Evaluation

The task we were set to complete was a to film and edit a person entering a room then having a conversation with someone. In the task we had to demonstrate the 180° rule, use of match on action ,shot reverse shot and continuity.

Our camera work was successful in many ways, however, it could have used improvement. We used a majority of shots within our prelim such as longshots, extreme longshots, midshots, two shots and close ups. The composition of our prelim was also fairly good as we had an isolated table on its own which created a sense of abandonment for the characters. The room we used was also deserted apart from us to empathise this feeling. However, we did not use camera movement within our prelim, it would have been better if we did because we could have seen the whole of the room and also make it harder to creak the 180° rule as we can show the camera moving positions. The shots we took and used were also steady as they did not move at all as we used a tripod which made for a more streamlined and professional piece. Our camerawork could have been better if we used camerawork as it would have made it look better.

Our editing was also fairly good but there could have been room for improvement. We used match on action in our prelim on the opening and closing of a door. This made it look more realistic and smooth. We also used shot reverse shot in our prelim during the conversation where we used it to show the conversation which we also used over the shoulder shots with. We also used continuity when we let the character move through the environment as we used it from when he was walking to the door and then after when he was moving through the room. We also used a few transitions to show time passing which helped us fit the piece together easier. We did however, have a problem with the 180° rule as we broke it once where the character was getting out of his chair, this did not fit very well as we broke the rule but could have looked worse if we broke it more than once, this would add confusion to our prelim which the single break did, but not on a large scale as if we did it multiple times.

We also did not use lighting very well within our prelim, but we did use it to create effect in one area. We struggled to use lighting as there was many windows within our area, this made it hard to use it as we cannot change the way light came into the room as there was no blinds on some of the windows. We did use it at one time however. This was when the character was getting out of his chair and his face was in shadow as he was blocking out the light. At this moment, he was angry so the darkness on his face reflected his feelings and emotions.

From creating our prelim, I have learnt that lighting is very hard to use in some areas, especially outdoors, and that it is very important to not break the 180° rule as it creates confusion for the audience. I have also learnt that planning of camera shots is also very important as we only had a rough plan to go by and if we had a detailed one, we could have used more complicated shots and made it harder to break the 180° rule and to keep light at a constant or use it to create effect. This has helped me as I now know what I will need to lookout for and do within my thriller opening that i am going to create to make it look as good and smooth as possible.

In my thriller, I hope to improve my use of the camera and lighting so I can make a more dramatic feeling piece as well as make it as smooth and simple as possible while still using techniques and think of new ideas that could be used within it.

Pictures and video link will be added when it is available on youtube.

Conventions of a thriller

Conventions of a Thriller

 

1. Mise-en-scene (Set)

Aliens

one convention of mise-en-scene in Alien is the idea of fear and death. This is evident all the way through the movie as there are multiple dead bodies that can be seen at different parts throughout it. Also, in Alien, most of the areas they visit are inside and underground as well as being in tight rooms and corridors. This creates a sense of claustrophobia and fear as there is nowhere to escape if something happens.

What Lies beneath

One convention of mise-en-scene of What Lies Beneath is the idea of fear. This is seen throughout the movie as there are mysterious happenings all the way through such as the bath turning on with no one putting it on, things falling off shelves and sounds. It is more evident in the bathroom as there seems to be steam coming from it at most times. This creates a sense of fear as it is rather thick smoke but also smoke can be seen as ghostly as in allot of other thriller movies smoke is used to represent a ghost is around and creates a sense of fear as it obscures the whole scene giving it a sense of fear as we do not know what is behind the smoke.

2. Mise-en-scene (costume)

Aliens

Some of the characters in Aliens wear a stereotypical costume that could be present in action thrillers even though it is a sci-fi horror thriller. This is evident especially in the middle of the movie as most of the heroes carry guns as they are military. This could be seen as a convention as many movies that are not even action thriller movies, but still thrillers, the heroes carry a gun, one example of this is Oblivion, another sci-fi thriller.

What Lies Beneath

The characters clothing is just common clothes that people would wear that are nothing special. However, this is also a convention as in other thrillers, they do not wear anything out of the ordinary, such as in Shallow Grave. This could be seen as a convention as in many thrillers, characters wear normal clothes. This also helps empathise with the character as they are no different from us.

3.Cinematography

Aliens

One convention in Aliens cinematography is the use of close ups and canted angles as at many parts they can be seen. Such as looking up on a character when they are about to be killed. This can be seen as a convention as many other movies have this in them to represent paranoia, such as Psycho as there are ECUs to create uneasiness. This is evident all the way through Alien.

 

What Lies Beneath

There are many conventions also used in What Lies Beneath. One that is used is low angle shots, especially near the end, of the male character. This is used to show that he is the dominant character and also that he is in charge. There are many low angles to make the female character seem vulnerable as he is above her.

Editing

Aliens

Editing is used throughout Aliens to create pace. This is most evident when the aliens first attack as the editing dramatically speeds up to create a sense of pace and also to show  all the action happening. There are also many cut always to different characters to show what is happening to them. Fast editing is used in many different thrillers as the action picks up so can be seen as a convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp7SNoYOQmY

Aliens Xenomorph scenes 0.53-1.25

What Lies Beneath

Editing is also used to create a sense of desperateness in What Lies Beneath. This is most evident when the male character attacks the female. when he is trying to drown her, the editing kicks up to show him drowning her, but when the drug starts to wear off, where she tries to take out the plug, it kicks again to show her desperateness of trying to take out the plug. This tells us that editing is used as a convention when the action is most prominent.

5.Non-diegetic Sound

Aliens

In Aliens, non diegetic sound is used to create tension as when action happens or is about to happen, a more fast paced type of sound track is used. This is used as a convention as it is evident throughout most other thriller movies. Many parts of the soundtrack also have a type of heartbeat sound to it.

What Lies Beneath

Non diegetic sound is used to also create tension in What Lies Beneath. this is more evident when something is about to happen and a loud evident sound plays to make the scene seem scarier. Also, some of the music has a heartbeat in it to show fear and despair in different parts as well as panic as it gets faster. This is heard in many different thrillers, so is a convention.

 

 

 

6.Diegetic Sound

Aliens

Diegtic sound is used to make the areas that the characters enter scary. This is more evident when they enter an alien infested area. Then a hissing sound is heard that can be heard by the characters. This is usually just a ruptured pipe, but the aliens also hiss. This is used to create tension as we don't know if the aliens are there or if it is a pipe. Something like this is heard in many other movie, such as wind could represent breathing if it is soft enough.

What Lies Beneath

Often, there are noises that can be heard such as water taps running and creaks of floorboards. This is also evident in other horror type movies, such as The Woman In Black. These are used to create tension but also used to signify that something is about to happen.

Representation

Aliens

The soldiers in Aliens are seen as the stereotypical thugs-for-hire as they are all fairly muscular, even the female character. However, women are represented differently within Aliens as the main character is a female who has to end up saving the day, and also one of the marines is a women, yet she carries the biggest weapon.

What Lies Beneath

The two main characters are represented as the stereotypical couple as they love each other, but as with most other horror movies with couples in it, they then develop issues between each other. This is a convention as in many other thriller movies,  the couple then grow apart then may become enemies, such as the do in What Lies Beneath.

 

Timeline of thriller genres

Star wars-Yoda vs Dooku continuity

mise-en-scene and sound

Mise-en-scene and sound

Mise en- scene includes:-

·         The set

·         The props

·         The costume

·         The lighting

Sound

Diegetic:-from the world of the film.

Non-diegetic:- Outside the world of the film.

Thriller soundtrack

·         Always in minor key. (sad)

·         Strings. (often high pitch)

·         Percussive heart beat sound. (usually in bass)

·         Increasing in speed and volume.

·         Nursery rhymes themes work well for creepy factor.

·         No lyrics.

·         Chromatics. (up and down the keys or notes) slightly freaky.

Damned

Composed by Sean Murray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1qaWZ-UjXw

Has minor key all the way through and is also a chromatic tune as it goes on, however it has a huge lack of percussion for the under heartbeat that is normal present. Has a semi freaky factor to it.

Samantha’s lullaby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1ZsdThRfGQ

Has I minor key to it as well as a percussive type to it to represent the heart beat but is calm. It does however, have a freaky tone to it as it has child’s laugh in it which makes it fairly scary.

 

 

Dead silence theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGlAtM2glEw

Minor key, scary. This is an effective theme as it matches how scary thriller movies should be as it has a under beat that represents heartbeat as well as being in a minor key creating that scare factor.

 

 

Analysis of “Psycho” shower scene, exploring how film techniques are used to create effects

Analysis of “Psycho” shower scene, exploring how film techniques are used to create effects

Hitchcock uses a variety of camera shots to create effect during the shower scene. The most common shot used is the close up. This is used when Marion is in the shower more than out as we need to see what she is doing whilst she is out of the shower, but as soon as she gets in there is a large amount of them used. This is used the most during the events of the murder itself as there are many close ups of different things in it, such as Marions face and the knife being used. These are used to create effects such as being uncomfortably close to the characters, this makes the viewer seem as if they are there witnessing the murder itself, this is effective as it gives the viewer a sense of realism that might seem scary to them. Also there is a sense of claustrophobia in the shower as there is nowhere to escape from the murderer

There is also an extreme close up used during this scene, these are however rarely used as they are extremely hard to use, however they are used to create a sense of uneasiness being that close to the person who the ECU is of. The most noticeable ECU is that of the victims eye once the camera is moved to the plug hole and it then fades into her eye, this is a graphic match that is supposed to create the effect that life is draining out of her body as is the blood down the plug. The ECU also creates a sense of extreme uneasiness as it is very uncomfortable being that close to the victim.

There are also a fair amount of midshots during the scene that are used to create effect. One example of this is when the murder is happening as it shows midshots of the victim and the murderer. This is used to create effect as it gives us a sense of being there as it is where we would probably be looking if we were in the room, this is a form of composition, this also makes us empathise with the victim as we could tell that she was vulnerable and that she could not prevent it as she had no way to resist as shown when the midshots show her being stabbed with her not resisting or attempting to fight back.

Editing is also used to create tension. This is the most obvious when the murder is happening as there is an increase of speed in it and a more rapid feel to the whole scene because of this, the main edit used is the simple cut as it is effective and fast. This creates the effect that the attack was fast and brutal as well as building tension as we do not know who the murderer is at this time because it doesn’t focus on them. This also creates the effect of surprised as when we are surprised; things seem to move faster, this makes us feel more excitable and erratic as it is a fast and brutal murder. Also, continuity editing is used throughout to make the scene seem as realistic as possible with straight cuts and shot changes in a realistic order. It is used as it makes the murder seem fluid and realistic. However, there are some point of view shots what make us empathise with the victim and their surprise.

There is also a sound effect that is used to create effect in this scene, that effect is the sound of the water draining from the shower that is present through most of the scene. This is most evident when the murder has finished as we can hear it more clearly. This creates the effect that life is draining away from Marion. This is a diegetic sound and makes it seem like a real place as it is what we could here if we were there.

Costume is also used to create effect in this scene. The most effective is probably Marions as she is not wearing anything, this makes her seem vulnerable and beyond help if anything happens, in this case a murder. However, the murderers costume is also used to create a slight effect due to the fact of his/her long hair; this gives them a sense of mystery and anonymity to the viewer due to the fact they may not know who they are in this case which matches up well with the end plot twist. shadow is also used to cover the murderers face and body of them, this is a type of lighting.

This scene uses a few conventions that are typical of a thriller. The most common in this case is the murder which is common amongst most thriller movies. This is also not the only convention as there is a relatively fast pace non-diegetic music being played in the most tense part that abruptly stops when the most tense moment ends, this music is present when the attack starts and comes to an almost instant stop when the murderer leaves the room, after this only diegetic sounds are heard such as the plug hole draining the blood and water.

 

thriller subgenres and audience

Thriller:

              Sub-Genre and Audiences

Sub-genre: genre within a genre. E.g. psychological thriller, erotic thriller, crime thriller, religious thriller.

Hybrid: Genre mixing. E.g. action thriller, satirical thriller, sci-fi thriller.

Action thriller:-explosions and running. Enemies among us: Generally doesn’t have a gender but they are more orientated towards men, also has an age group of teenage and adult. Only requires a basic education. They do generally not aimed at a certain lifestyle. E.g. taken, speed.

Sci-fi thriller:-hybrid, usually “what if” situation with aliens or unbelievable things. Aliens:- does not really have a gender however the age group seems to be higher (18+). Higher education. Working class lifestyle.

Noir:- Dark, about murder. Blue Dahlia:- it is not aimed at a certain gender as with most older movies, but however it does seem to have a more adult theme so it is aimed at adults, it is really for people who had a good education as you need to think of the murder yourself, for the higher lifestyles.

Crime/gangster Thriller:-about crime. Lawless:- Male and female, higher/basic education, age group is late teens, working class.

Religious Thriller:- obviously about religion. Constantine:- aimed at what seem to be males as it has action packed parts, however saying this it is aimed at older people but not any older than 50 as religious thrillers are aimed at older people, it is also probably a better idea to have a higher education due to understanding of religious themes, for middle and higher lifestyles.

Psychological thriller: - usually confusing, about the mind. The signal:- this defiantly requires a higher education due to the fact that it very confusing, this also results in being aimed at adults due to this, however also it has graphic content also for adults, but can also be watched by all lifestyles if they can understand it.

Erotic Thriller:- about relationships and sex. Basic instinct:- this is aimed directly at adults as it has some very explicit content, this means that it cannot be watched by teenagers but can be watched by all who have a basic education as it is not confusing. However it is probably more aimed at men, due to these scenes but woman can watch it. It can also be seen by all lifestyles.

Supernatural Thriller:- scary, has ghosts and similar in it. The Sixth Sense:- This movie can be seen by anyone who is above the age of at least 15 as it is not particularly bloody of explicit. This also does not have a gender that is particularly aimed at so men and women can both enjoy this, also only a basic education is needed as it is not that confusing. Any lifestyle can watch this however it is aimed at working class as it can be seen as horror which many generally like.

Political Thriller:- about politics often have assassinations and presidents with hints of espionage. Argo:- This is aimed at any person who has a higher education to understand any parts of politics or movie making, thus being said it is not necessarily aimed at adults as teenagers/young adults may also fins this interesting. The lifestyle this is aimed at is probably middle class as it has quite a lot to do with that type of lifestyle.

Dystopian Thriller:- world turned on its head, usually has a dictator in it. Hunger Games:- Teenage audience, aimed towards females, however it can be seen as all audiences due to the action. Basic/higher education. Normal lifestyle.

 

Thriller openings

Thriller openings

Goldeneye

A lot of action in a small space of time with fast editing makes it seem faster.

Straight into thriller action.

This is a good opening to a thriller movie as it suits the genre of action-thriller very well this is because it is very fast pace when action comes into it and it also has fast paced music which connotes the speed at which the action is taking place.

28 days later

Music is quite effective as it gets faster when he realises when he realises what’s going on. Also it is chromatic, much like a lot of thriller movies.

The opening of 28 days later is rather effective for its genre as it has many connotations of a thriller movie. One of these is that it is out of the ordinary as something is wrong with London, this works as many thrillers have a sense of mystery, this is obvious as London is abandoned and the character does not know what is going on. This is effective as we learn what is happening as he does and creates a sense of empathy between the audience and the character.

The Departed

About something that has happened.

The departed opening is good as it can be linked to events that some of the audience may know about or have been through. This gives them a sense that they can link with the movie world and may understand more about the movie itself or events to come.

Memento

It has crime in it as main character is an investigator and it is really confusing which suits the psychological thriller sub-genre.

This opening relates well to the psychological thriller subgenre as it is very confusing. This works well as many other psychological thrillers are confusing. However, Memento being confusing, it requires the audience to think about what events just happened. This creates a type of puzzle the audience has to piece together and involves them in the movie more.

Drive

Involved with crime and is from a criminals perspective.

Drive’s opening fits well into the thriller genre as it has many aspects that are similar to other thrillers. For example, one signifier of a thriller is that it can be from a criminal’s perspective. This makes it a good opening as it sticks to the conventions of a thriller movie.

 

V for vendetta

Dystopian and a “what if?” question is posed. It has explosions in it which relates to action thrillers.

V for vendetta’s opening is good as it has many aspects that can relate to different types of thriller movies. One of these is action thriller as it has fighting in it, but it has a sense of being in a dystopian place where the country may have changed. This is good as the audience has to figure out why the place is like how it is as well as enjoying the action.

Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

The opening for Bangkok dangerous is good as it obeys two types of signifiers from thrillers but relates more to action.  One of these is that it is from the point of view of a criminal, this gives us an inside feeling of what it’s like to be a criminal. The other is action thriller as it involves guns being shot and escaping which heavily relates to action thrillers.

The hunger games

The opening of the hunger games is effective as it tells us a story of what already happened as well as showing us a story that is about to happen. This makes it easier for us to understand the dystopian world it is set in as well as feel as if we are a part of it as we are listening to its history. This is effective as it means that we can get to grips with the world and understand what the 

characters are going through easier.

 

 

Psycho-parlour scene analysis

Hitchcock uses many close-ups and midshots during the parlour scene. This is used to create tension by showing the fast changing of emotions of Norman and Marion. This is particularly evident when Norman starts getting angry about people talking about his mother being put “some place”. This has the effect of showing how characters react to certain actions and also creates an effect of intimidation, especially when Norman leans over to the camera. This creates tension as it shows how the emotions and feelings of characters can change in a very short amount of time. Also, many shots of Norman are from the front which may give us a feeling that we are viewing from in front of or from Marions point of view, this creates a type of empathy link between the audience  and Marion, this makes us feel as if we are being spoke to instead of Marion herself.

     Hitchcock also makes good use of composition in the Parlour scene. This is used to create tension as of where things are in the shot. This is more obvious when the low angle shots of Norman are shown and we can clearly see the large owl with its wings spread. The owl builds tension as the viewer’s focus may drift from Norman to the owl as it seems as though it is swooping down for the kill, This builds tension as it seems rather scary and puts the audience on edge. Another way good use of composition is seen is when the straight on shots of Norman are seen, when he is sitting back we can clearly see a pheasant behind him, This could represent his mental state as when he is calm you can clearly see it, and as we know, the pheasant is a generally peaceful bird. However, when he leans forward when he is getting angry, the pheasant is obscured and a black bird, this could be a crow, seems to dominate more than the Pheasant, this could also represent his mental state in this as a crow is seen as a bad omen, thus complimenting Normans angry feelings at the time.

     Hitchcock also makes use of camera angles in this scene. This builds tension as it could make the character appear more violent or weaker during the duration of this shot as well as following shots. This is very evident as there are many low angle shots of Norman, This creates the effect that he is the dominant force in this conversation as he seems bigger than Marion, This also builds tension as he seems intimidating towards the audience and makes them intimidated by him or feel a sense of fear. This also has another effect as when the two are having this conversation, there are many cut aways to the other character. As we know the low angle shots of Norman are common and when we cut back to Marion, she seems to not takes as much of the shot up as what Norman does, This shows us that he should be scared of and could signify what he later does in the film.

     Hitchcock uses a lot of shadows to effect during the scene. This builds tension as shadows are seen as mysterious but also intimidating, especially if it is a large shadow. This is most evident when Marion is about to leave the room. Whilst she is leaving, there is a shadow of a Raven behind her shoulder. The raven is a symbol of death and since it appears on her shoulder, it could foreshadow what is going to happen. This creates tension as the raven is clearly there and is hard to miss; this creates tension as it is not the actual bird itself, but a shadow, which we find more intimidating. The Raven is also seen behind Norman as he is exiting the door and the raven is a large shadow behind his back, once again this could foreshadow what he is going to do to Marion, it is also seen beside him when he is sitting in the parlour. Shadow is also used to show a sense of mystery during their time in the parlour. This is seen when Marion is talking as some of her face is in shadow, but more when Norman is leaning back in his chair is it obscures most of his face as well as his chest, This could mean that we should look out for his later appearances as it makes him seem mysterious.

     Hitchcock also makes interesting use of framing during this scene. This creates tension as we are not sure what else is happening in the room or with the other person. This is evident when they first enter the parlour as when they are inside it, Marion and Norman are never seen together in the same shot, this also creates a sense of mystery as we do not know what the other character is doing or what they are reacting like to conversation till we cut back to them. It is also used with the raven mentioned above as the raven is actually only seen once physically when then enter and is later cut out of the whole scene as a physical being and can only be seen as a shadow, This makes the whole room more mysterious and also makes more room for use of shadow which is used to build tension in this scene.

 

Noir mood board

Revolution mise-en-scene

Revolution mise-en-scene

Revolution is set after a 14 year black out in America where there is no electricity or power and there is dictatorship over a few states. The mise-en-scene of Revolution as mainly in the country, however there are some cities that are used. The reason that the countryside and wasteland parts are used is to create a sense of depression and abandonment as well and loneliness across America. The mise-en-scene in the cities is a lot different. This creates different feelings about America as it is not all a wasteland. One example of this is when the main characters enter a post blackout Philadelphia. Philadelphia in Revolution is used as a hub for the military and is extremely busy. This completely changes the air of abandonment in America as in some places it is a place where military is strong and normal people have no power, creating a sense of insecurity and being trapped.

The characters in Revolution are a bunch of people looking to turn the power back on but also to start off with lent towards revenge and trying to find a lost brother. Miles Matheson is a key character in revolution but he is a hero with a shrouded past. His costume is not stereotypical of a hero as he is usually seen as a mess as he has scruffy hair and old black clothing, this is strange as a hero is seen as formal and wears bright or shining items. This hints that he may have a secret past where he is not as good as he is pretending to be. He also generally carries a sword and a gun, this is could be seen to go against his non stereotypical appearance as a sword is a “noble” weapon and is not commonly used, this could connote that he is seen as a knight as knights are seen to be heroic, giving him respect.  Charlie is also another character who does not particularly fit in as a hero. This is because she is a teenage girl and if a woman is a hero they are generally in their late 20s. This creates a strange sense of a hero being vulnerable as there are many men who want her dead and this shows her as vulnerable, however her costume would change this as it is completely opposite to her as she dresses in boy’s clothes and carries a crossbow which is non-stereotypical of a girl. This also gives us a sense of it being unusual as a girl generally does not wear clothes similar to hers and also using a weapon completely negates her being seen as vulnerable.