Se7enSettingThe film is set in a nondescript area; we don't see much of the actual location because of the extreme close ups on the action. The whole scene is dark, which creates tension - is there something there that we as the audience cannot see? Basic colours are used - red, white and black, possibly contrasting with themes of blood, purity and evil. A lot of the scene is lighted with a green tinge - connoting mystery, envy and jealousy.
PropsIn the opening scene of
Se7en, lots of props are used. Huge dirty books on the side - studying old forms of knowledge, not up to date. Razor blades and scalpels connote with the fragility of the body, and suggest mutilation and pain.
American money is used in the sequence - perhaps to give clues as to where the film is set. 'In God We Trust'
Eyes on pictures are blanked out to make them anonymous - cold, calculated murder.
SoundA metronome in the background signifys the counting of time... and possibly the wasting of it.
The music is repetitive. High pitched 'screaming' style sound effects are used throughout the opening to bring tension to the atnosphere.
CharactersSomerset - Morgan Freeman. He is a rational character, and is very thoughtful and wise. He always thinks before he acts.
Mills - Brad Pitt. He is a reasonless character - he acts very much the opposite of 'by the book'. He is young, almost the 'maverick' of the police.
These characters conflict in a lot of ways. They seem to have an opposition in almost every area; age, race, dress sense, relationship status...
This creates tension for the audience, as they want to watch on to see how the conflicting characters react when they have to cooperate as a team.
NarrativeCalm and calculated opening. It becomes apparent that there is something sinister going on throughout the scene, but it is carefully organised; smart.
Titles/Graphics
Sketchy scribbling writing is used to signify crazy and psychotic people.
Monochrome -> opposites. E.G Good and Evil, Race, Status, Age... Red - Blood, death, murder
Flashing images are used so they stick in the audience's mind. This is used along with ghosting in order to speed up the sequences, and catch the audience's attention.
Se7en is a successful thriller because it combines a variety of codes and conventions of thriller films in an effective manner, but also manages to defy the audience's preconceptions by using mystery and deceit. This is done by creating tension through the setting, colour and sound used in the opening. Extreme close ups are used to great effect - the audience cannot see everything that is going on and although we are watching as a 'fly on the wall', mystery is added by not being able to have a complete overview of the scene.
Red EyeNarrative StructureThe first character shown in the film is in a photograph of an attractive woman, shown in her graduation robes. This tells the audience that she is clever, without literally
saying it. It also suggests that she is going to be a main character in the film.
The story is told through a few different strands of the plot; one following a crate, another following a wallet.
Thriller codes and conventions used in Red EyeFast paced music.
Extreme close ups.
Hidden sense of mystery and 'enigma' -> secret, puzzle and riddle.
Aggressive.
Initials - vague.
CinematographyMost of the faces remain anonymous; only main characters' features are shown.
A lot of extreme close ups are used- they show detail and eliminate the need to tell the audience about the setting.
Point of view shots and over the shoulder shots give the audience the feel of eavesdropping on an important conversation, and encourages them to feel more involved.
Tracking shots are used a lot in the scene in order to 'slink in' to the object of interest.
The scene ends with a low angle establishing shot of the hotel; the hotel is an important point of authority in the movie.
Mise-En-SceneThe darkness of the scene (shot at night time) creates tension.
The first setting was a house, which then switched to an industrial estate, then to a hotel. The industrial estate contrasts greatly with the comfort of the other two settings; the evil begins there? Dark and Light create contrast;
Photos of hotels and blueprints in the hotel room contrast with photos of family in the house - more of a 'good guy' location.
The wallet that was stolen only had initials on - adds anonymity. The money and credit cards are unimportant and unwanted. The wallet was also in the centre of the screen, which shows that it is the main focus of the shot. When the money is thrown out, a picture of the girl shown in the first shot is left in the wallet - This shows she is also important in the movie.
The mystery of what is in the crate intrigues the viewer - the fish in the crate are unimportant.
SoundTense, orchestral music is used to create more excitement. The music is fast, but low pitched, and builds up to crescendos when the location changes. It is used along with sound fx of planes, which gives the audience a clue as to what is coming in the film. The sound reflects the action throughout the scene; diagetic house sounds are used, such as creaky doors, which seem loud in the silent house. The sound builds up towards the end of the scene, and fits in with the diegetic sounds in beats of two - when the man bangs on the van door twice, it is as if he is sending the van and the music away.
EditingCrosscutting is used to show a variety of shots quickly, and disolves are used to change the location of the action. The sequence slows down, and speeds up again, to create excitement and an element of chaos for the audience. The final sequence is the fastest and encourages the audience to watch on, and adds intrigue to the story.
GraphicsThe nondescript titles are black and white, possibly to show the contrast of good and evil.The titles move away into the distance as if we are travelling away from them.
Red Eye is the last main title to be shown, and is coloured in a bold red, to convey the idea of blood and murder. The simplicity of the titles shows that they are not important in the story; some titles are also shown over the top of the action.
State of PlayNarrative StructurePolitical thriller, with a clear beginning, middle and end -> shows equilibrium. A chase scene means the film starts with action almost immediately, but adds drama and encourages the audience to watch on.
Thriller Codes and Conventions used in State of PlayTypical chase scene involving a gun. However, the chaser remains unseen until the last few seconds of the scene.
Dark night - adds tension.
CinematographyThe camerawork in this scene changes as the scene goes along.
POV shots, steadicams and handheld cameras are used to follow the man we are chasing. This means that the shots are more jerky, but more authentic within the story. Shots of architecture are used throughout the sequence. It shows us the contrast of rich and poor through the city. The last shot of the scene shows us that the innocent man on the bike passing the murder is still alive. This gives the audience hope and intrigue.
Mise-En-Scene
The weather sets the scene - a dark, cold, rainy night. The establishing shot of the scene is of the city of Washington; a city known for being linked with politics, which gives the audience a clue on the theme. Props include a briefcase... probes the audience to ask 'What's in there?!' When the man we are chasing runs onto the 'evil' side of the city down the alley, it truly shoes how frantic he is. Through the rich side of the city he had broken all signs of fragility - he pushed over the vulnerable old people, and broke china in the china shop (ironically linking to the phrase 'bull in a china shop'.)
Sound
The music at the beginning is similar to the sound effect to that of thunder, or a helicopter. This makes the audience think about what is to come. The music builds up to a crescendo and then combines with diegetic sound to Sound effects such as gun shots are used, to make the action look more real, and create more excitement and emotion.
Editing
Match on action is used throughout the scene; we, as an audience follow the main port of action, so we don't miss a thing. Because of the mystery surrounding the gunman assassin, crosscutting is not used; the assassin is kept as anonymous as possible until the last moment. The editing speeds up until the end of the chase - just like the man's breathing. Editing by the end is very fast-paced and chaotic, with shots changing every one to two seconds.
Graphics
Logos and company names are shown first in the movie. Then all titles are shown over the action, using the same font, but different colours. The colours used are red, white and blue; like the US flag. This shows that the film is related to american politics and involves some patriotic characters.
Strangers on a Train
Narrative Structure
The story of this film's opening is simple; two strangers meet on a train.
After speaking for a while, Bruno suggests the idea of a double 'opposite' murder. By the end of the sequence, Bruno takes it seriously, but Guy tries to get away.
Guy-> Famous tennis player
Bruno -> Fan of Guy
, seemingly obsessed with the idea of murder.
The nature of this film's plot suggests that 'everything happens for a reason'. It links to the ideas of fate and destiny within the film, as if each action has a domino effect.
Thriller codes and conventions in Strangers on a Train
Unidentified characters create mystery within the first sequence of the film; the idea of anonymity features heavily in films of the thriller genre.
CameraworkLow level opening shot means identitys are hidden, as no faces are revealed.
Two shots are used a lot to show equality between the characters, as if they start on an 'even playing field'.
Shot reverse shot is used along with the 180 Degree rule to show the conversation between the characters.
Mise-En-Scene
The first shot of the scene shows a taxi; a taxi being the most anonymous way to travel, encouraging the audience to be intrigued by the passenger.
Contrast of the characters is seen as soon as they are first shown; the simple differences in shoes show their characters. The way in which the characters are walking also suggests they will meet soon.
There are a lot of strangers in the opening scene - it shows how crowds work, and how strangers have to cooperate with each other every day.
Train tracks are shows as a metaphor for life and life's journey. The tracks also symbolise that there are many paths to take, and it is impossible to go back; just like when a decision is made in life, they can't be taken back. The tracks crisscross together; a reference to later on in the film.
When Guy kicks Bruno, it is obviously an accident. But this one accident kickstarted a whole chain of events. This also links to the idea of train tracks and the theory of destiny.
Sound
Orchestral , old fashioned, loud music is used throughout the title sequence and beginning shots. However, compared to some thriller music, it did not connotate with things such as violence and fear. Instead, it suggested emotional and extravagant things were to come - an epic piece of music.
When we first see the shoes of Bruno, the music changes to a more 'cartoony' 'Tom and Jerry' style piece.The music in this scene defies the genre by using playful and almost innocent music to contrast with the sinister movements of the future villains.
However, this changes back to typical thriller music when Bruno enters the carriage, and the sounds change yet again; but this time to more ominous, creepy music. This gives the audience a clue of what is yet to come.
The sound throughout is in sync with the characters - in their footsteps, movement and even in the meeting. It is as if the two strands of music for each character met in the middle to show the collision of characters.
The speech from Bruno seems to be vague and sinister; 'I do admire people who do things...'. This gives us a clue that he could be a future villain.
EditingDuring the beginning sequence, crosscutting was used between the two characters in order to show that they are, or will be linked in some way in the movie. It shows that they are 'destined' to meet, and are, in a way, walking towards disaster.
When the characters met, shot reverse shots were used between the two characters to symbolise their speech and show their conversation.
GraphicsBlack and white bold typography was used for the majority of the title credits. This was used along with a calligraphy style font (similar to a signature?). The contrast between the two titles could symbolise the contrast between good and evil, or rich and poor.
Strangers on a plane is a successful thriller because it uses a combination of effective techniques, using sound, cinematography and the codes and conventions of the thriller genre in order t reach the audience and interest them in the film. The mystery element of the film also means that the movie has a certain 'Unique Selling Point' or USP, which keeps the audience wanting more and more answers to their fast building questions.
Hannibal RisingNarrative StructureA family is being evacuated from their home in WWII Germany as Nazi soldiers are taking over. Their property is now Nazi property.
Thriller Codes and ConventionsAs this film is a war film is already gives the audience a sense of suspense - are we going to get another side of the story. It makes the audience feel like they have gained exclusive access.
CameraworkTracking shot and closeups of nature are used to bring tension to the scene, yet connotate with calm. Crane shots are also used a lot to give a general overview of the whole scene, which contrast with the closeups used - these allow the audience to view objects of importance in more detail. Most of the shots of people are viewed from a high angle perspective, showing that they are vulnerable in the scene. Low angle shots are used when tanks or planes are in shot- the war is more important than the people in it.
Mise-en-SceneThe first shot is of a spiderweb in the wind - shows the fragility and evils of human life. Various shots of nature are used to follow this, along with a wildlife shot of a wild boar. This could be suggesting that the boar is an ancient source of food, which links to the later plot of the movie.
The scene then shows children playing and laughing. This is a symbol of innocence and shows natural happiness. This is followed by shots showing us the various buildings in the area; the old church and Lecter Castle- The title character's home. Carriages are also used within the sequence to show us this was set in an earlier time- more classic. The beauty of these shots are then contrasted with bombs, tanks, amy caps and swastikas, coupled with noisy war planes overhead - the villains are taking over. A swastika is placed on the castle, showing the scene is set in WWII.
SoundHigh pitched orchestral opening music contrasts with nature diegetic sound to combine to show an underlying sad theme behind the childrens' laughter. An interesting thing in the scene is that there is no opening speech between the children, only laughter and the tweeting of birds in the background. This again connotes natural happiness.
EditingCuts in the opening scene are sharp and quick. They speed up as the scene goes on, and by the time the family are being evacuated from their home, cuts are every 2 seconds on average.
GraphicsGraphics within the film are very plain and simple- a logo is shown before the picture is shown. Other than that, actors names are not shown - only the name of the film 'Hannibal Rising' is shown in thin bronze lettering first. It shows how important the film name is to set the tone. Words are also put on screen to show the setting of the castle - 'Lecter Castle', showing that it is owned by the Lecter family.
Hard CandyNarrative Structure
An instant messenger conversation is going on between two people over the internet. They then meet up in 'Nighthawks' cafe.
Thriller Codes and ConventionsBlack, red and white themes.
Breaks of silence within the film.
CameraworkThe opening scene of Hard Candy features a lot of graphics, which feature mainly long shots and full shots. Throughout the instant messenger conversation, cinematography included shots such as tracking shots from up to down the screen. The trackings were slow, possibly to show more detail within the words. Close to the end of the conversation, over the shoulder style shots are used - perhaps to make the audience feel as if they are spying or eavesdropping on someone else's conversation. Within the cafe, a variety of extreme close ups are used - again, to show detail, and encourage the audience to gte more acquainted with the characters.
Mise-en-sceneThe instant messanging conversation is very oppositional - colours are red vs blue (we see the connotation between red for girl and blue for boy). The avatars are also synonymous with the characters - the girl has a heart logo, and the man a camera logo, which is linked to his screenname, 'Lensman319'.
The girl's character is portrayed with short hair and no makeup wearing a red hoody - adolescence. Her first close up shows her as innocent and barefaced, which shows her innocence.
The man is much older than the girl. Conventionally tall and handsome with glasses and a suit and stubble on his face.
The contrast in characters is shocking, and immediately starts alarm bells ringing for the audience - paedophilia is suspected, but the girl seems more forthcoming than the man, even shown in her screenname Thongrrrl14.
SoundSad, highpitched piano based music is used in the background of the graphics. It connotes a false sense of security and the repetitive tone lulls the reader into a sad mood. When on the IM window, the only sound is the diegetic typing in the background, again, as if we are eavesdropping on the conversation.
EditingHard Candy uses a lot of cutting to different angles - as if the audience are constantly moving and spying on the characters.
GraphicsWhite backgrounds and black lines use a lot of contemporary conventions. We are gollwing a red square/box as if it is on a conveyor belt. Titles are shown before the film begins - they are not laid over the action, perhaps so as not to distract the viewer from the detail. Titles are swooping in from the sides in thin, almost fragile text.
Theoretical approaches to the thriller genre
