Thriller Analysis - Red Eye

Narrative Structure 
The entrance sequence instantly, black screen white writing, at the opening sequence we are instantly taken to pictures of graduate, shows person is a family man. Opening sequence straight to the point, introduces only two characters and who made the film. After a short scene, goes to opening sequence two, shows people preparing for something, man had wallet stolen has pictures of the girl in the first photos, this could signal this person as a target or easy way to get to man

Thriller codes and conventions
The movie follows the thriller codes and conventions by using music to build tension. is also uses busy settings, traffic, hotel to portray styles of character for example the daughter has a busy lifestyle. Also the movie uses quiet areas to signal victims, the plane and the fathers house (alone in a quiet neighbourhood, no one would know if anything happened to the man) . it is also set in an urban landscape which was rainy and very busy

Camerawork 
Fast shots, close ups on wallet, shows that it has importance and can lead to something big later on in the film



Mise-en-scene
The scenes set are in busy locales and is portrayed throughout except for the fathers house which is quiet and empty which shows that this character is the most vulnerable to harm during the movie.


Sound
The sound used at the beginning of the sequence creates tension but also signifys a form of organised plan as people are prepared for something in the background as the music plays, also the sound used shows vulnerability in characters as the music changes when the father is talking to his daughter and shown that he is alone


Editing
The editing if this movie switches between character when they are talking for eample in the opening sequence it constantly switches to the people who are talking on the phone



Graphics
The graphics of the movie use urban areas and busy locales such as airports or hotels, it also uses, it also uses light colours to signify innocence in characters as the fathers house is coloured brightly

 

 

Thriller Analysis - Se7en

Narrative Structure
The entrace sequence to the movie seven does not begin instantly, the movie begins with detective Somerset, who is preparing to go to his job, it quickly moves straight to his work as it switches to a crime scene where Somerset is, at this moment we are introduced to detective Mills who has been reassigned to the case Somerset is working on.

The opening entrance sequence switches to a person, you can only see the fingers of this character which makes the audience want to know who this character is, music is played throughout this sequence as this person is working on a book, this gives us the impression that this person could be planning something big. The opening sequence uses a black screen and white writing for the cast, but the writing is shaking on the screen instead of the use of big bold writing. 

Thriller codes and conventions
This movie follows the thriller codes and conventions as it uses dark lighting for scenes and also uses a urban area which is 'transformed' due to this killings so this creates a story this area and setting. The movie also uses run down buildings and the victims are set in these type of areas.

Camerawork
The camerawork for this movie uses multiple camera angles that constantly change. When the characters it always has shots of the person who is speaking but they can be from different angles such as over the shoulder shots. The movie also uses establishing shots fo specific area from time to time to signal that the next scene could be set in there, it also shows the sense that the killer is still on the loose and could be anywhere in the city as it shows shots from different parts of the city

Mise-en-scene
The movie is based around the theme of the seven deadly sins and this is portrayed throughout as at the opening sequence when the first victim is killed, it has the name of the sin on the wall and the victim is killed in the way of that particular sin, also the movie follows this theme as where the victims or killed it relates to that particular sin also.

Sound
The movie uses a tense music to build up tension during parts of the movie, the opening sequence uses tense music through the use of a soundtrack and uses loud noises to build up tension. Also at the start of the movie the first noise that we hear is a siren, this gives a sense of emergency or crime, this could signal what the character does or what type of neighbourhood the character lives in, it also gives us a sense of the area the film is set in.

Editing
Editing of this movie switches from day to day as during the movie there is a killing each day and each day is a different sin the killer portrays, but it only switches to a different day in the movie once the detectives finds the info the killer wants them to find and when another killing has been commited

Graphics
The graphics of this movie follow the typical thriller codes as it uses the dark settings and dark colours such as grey, black and brown, it also uses light colours such as white to signal innocence and this is shown during the beginning when we see Mills' apartment we see his bed uses white cloth and his wife is wearing white which gives a sense of purity in the character.

 

 

Thriller Analysis - Jaws

Narrative Structure
The opening titles for this movive uses a black screen, the opening sequence uses the cast names in bold white writing to stand out. The opening sequence also follows the theme of the movie as during the sequence it uses shots from inside the water. The music at the start gives us the impression that something big is about to happen as the music becomes tense and louder using violins and cellos till it comes to the big anticlimax when nothing happens and it switches to more upbeat and cheerful music from people on the beach through the use of harmonicas and guitars


At the beginning of the opening sequence the movie focuses on two specific people so we know that the first narrative is going to focus on them. During this sequence the two people go to the beach and leave the campsite on the beach, the sky begins to get dark and there is no sound so this shows that the people are alone and more vulnerable to danger.


Thriller Codes and Conventions
Jaws follows the codes and conventions of the thriller genre as it has the use of the tense music when something is about to happen. The piece also uses climatic moments for the audience react to which gives a sense of diversity. The movie also follows the rules of the code the transformed city as it transforms an ordinary setting in this case a beach into something extraordinary as there is a killer shark in the waters by the beach. The movie does not show the shark at the beginning of the opening sequence as it wants the audience to keep guessing on what is in the water and this gives them the urge to want to know what it is in the water. Jaws also follows the thriller codes as the victim at the begining of the movie calls for help but no one can hear the screams so this gives the sense that the victim is alone


Camerawork
Camerawork in this movie uses shots from the sharks eyes when it is hunting down a victim which shows where the shark is and what it can see. Also it uses an extreme long shot of the water to show how far the victim is from civilization so this shows that there is no protection or help for the victim.


Mise-En-Scene
Jaws shows that the movie uses a water theme by using the name 'Jaws' and using a shark follows this theme. The movie also sets the scenes, for example it uses run down railings, and this could signal a corrdor leading to danger. Also during the opening sequence, someone is attacked by the shark and they ring the bell which signals danger and call for help. At the end of the sequence the victim is pulled under the water and it uses an extreme long shot of the water again, and the area is silent so this gives a sense that nothing has happened and no one knew about it


Sound
The movie starts off quiet, and uses music to build tension up to climatic moments, it uses instruments such as cellos to do this which begin quiet leading to loud faster paced music. At the beginning of the movie we hear a noise of what could be a submarine, this presents the audience with the sense that the movie is underwater so the sound follows the theme of the movie.


Editing
The editing of this movie uses cuts between the water and the beach where the campers are set at the beginning of the movie, for example at the opening sequence, someone is attacked in the water and it skips to a person on the beach who cannot hear the victim who is far away in the water.


Graphics
The graphics of the movie follow codes of the thriller genre by using dark backgrounds for the opening titles with white writing, it also uses the cloudy skies or darkness to signal danger or a signal that something is going to happen.

Thriller Analysis - American Psycho

Narrative Structure

The narrative structure to this piece begins with the entrance sequence of the movie, it begins with a white screen, the entrance sequence uses red drops falling down the screen, at first off, the movie makes you believe that this could be blood drops, it also shows a knife which would give sense of a killing but we end up being presented with an anticlimax, when the scene actually turns out to be a dinner being prepared, this also shows the narrative that this give a sophisticated atmosphere. 

During the movie we are introduced to the main character - Patrick Bateman, who introduces themselves through a voiceover during his daily routine, he also introduces other characters while they are all at a restaurant or in a group at work. We are also told that Patrick has a form or medical problem where hje has the feeling that his life is a dream so this could give us the sense that he could do anything he wanted but he has an excuse for his actions, also his apartment is in a busy area and high up so this gives him the freedom that he could do anything and no-one would hear it, through this, this gives this a sense that he could be the antagonist of this movie.

Thriller Codes and Conventions
American Psycho follows the rules of the thriller genre as the main character tells us that he suffers from a medical condition which gives he an excuse to do whatever he wants, included killing people. The movie also follows the thriller codes and conventions and throughout the movie it will always use lonely areas for victims of killings and in thriller this is used to give the sense that the victim has no one to help them and no one would hear them.

The movie follows thriller codes as the movie uses your average urban areas and dark rundown settings. The movie also uses symboling for example white signalling innocence and black symboling somthing sinister, this is shown when Patrick has his whole apartment in white which would symbolise that really, Patrick is in a way an innocent victim but this is contratsted by the acts he does, this shows us that we can believe that what the main character says earlier we can believe that he feels that his life is a dream because through these clours of his apartment, it shows really he wouldnt act like the way he does in the movie.

Camerawork
The camerawork of the movie uses shots on each character when each of them are talking, it also shows the characters apartment showing how rich the character is and how sophisticated the character is by showing his daily routine at the beginning of the movie. The camerawork focuses on the main characters more than the other characters because when the main character - Patrick speak, its would focus on their faces but mainly focus on him while he talks.


Mise-En-Scene
The movie shows the setting that the movie is based around a sophisticated area as it uses scenes in a fancy, rich restaurant, this is backed up with at the start of the movie the entrance sequence shows a rich meal being prepared. The movie is based around rich setting as all the characters are wearing suits and the movie uses rich areas for sets such as offices and sold out restaurants.


Sound
The sound of the movie begins with a dischordent sound, it uses violins but not in a particular tune which would make the watcher feel uncomfortable with the jarring strings while red drops fall down the screen during the opening sequence, the movie then switches to the use of violins again but in a calm and sophisticated manner which completely contrast what was used at the start if the opening sequence, this is uses as it makes the watcher feel one way but drives them to something nothing like what they think because it turns out to be just a meal being prepared a rich venue. The music in Patricks apartment is calm music also which contrast what he actually does during the movie. Also contrapuntal sound is used which would give the audience a sense of confusion becuase during a scene, Patrick puts on music in his apartment but the music does not fit in to the scene as he ends up killing someone while he has cheerful and catchy music playing in the background.


Editing
Editing in the movie uses a lot of cutting between day and night as in one scene it will show people at work, then it will immedietly change to a night out in a club.


Graphics
The graphics used during the movie follow the thrillers codes as it uses dark settings and urban areas, it uses the typical dark colours in setting such as grey, black which would show sinister or evil setting but it uses white colour for Patricks house which gives a sense of innocence in his character of his actual self.

 

 

Section 1 - The Thriller Genre

Many people had therories on what the thriller genre is like, and what a thriller means in their viewpoints

The Transformed City

C K Chesterton belived that thrillers 'transform' ordinary into extraordinary, he used this term refering to cities. He belived that the world is quite bleak and thrillers turn this dull urban areas into a full depth story that thrills an audience for example a murder could occur in a city or town which would create the story. This view is shown in the movie Se7en as an urban city is turned upside down by the events that occur and in this case murders.

The Heroic Romance

Northrop Frye believed that the hero of a thriller should be an average everyday person, In the thriller the 'hero' has to act in extraordinary ways due to the circumstances brought before them.

The Exotic

John Cawelti thought that locations. Also some of the characters in thrillers should be unfamiliar with the areas they are put in, he states this as this would add to the excitement.

Mazes and Labyrinths

W H Matthews believed that sudden changes should happen in plots and some stories shoud lead to dead ends. Dead ends would be used in thrillers to hide the identities of certain characters and in this case keeping the audience guessing and adding to excitement

Partial Vision

Pascal Bonitzer had the idea that certain areas in a film should be hidden to the audience to make thier experiences better for example something could happen but we only see the outcome of it

Concealment and Protraction

Lars Ole Saurberg stated that information that’s important to the narrative is not actually known to the audience but revealed later on in the story. This creates an interrogative style for the audience which makes them guess until the ending climax

Question and Answer Model

Noel Carroll came up with the idea that the audience should be made to ask questions but later on in the film the answers to these questions are revealed. This keeps the audience eager to know the answers which creates a gripping narrative for the audience to see