Thriller 5- Panic Room- David Fincher

Camera- The first shot is an ELS, establishing the location of the film to the audience there are not a variety of different shot, all are either LS or ELS of the cityscape. This connotes that that location will be set in the City and all the action will be set there. The panning of the credits shows us the credits are running in the same perspective of the buildings. It is a very traditional way in viewing the City, of Manhattan with very icon places and buildings filmed.  The credits are floating on the skyscrapers in an interesting typography. When we are introduced to the protagonist character the director has chosen to use a high angle connote that something is going to happen to the character as she is being looking down on and is a defenceless and vulnerable position.  

Sound- The Non- diegetic music is the only reason the audience feels a sense of suspense and tension relating it back to the title ‘Panic Room’. The music adds a tone of foreboding and apprehension otherwise the opening could be for any other type of film.  The music is of a classic genre and is slow and steady at the beginning and gradually builds. The diegetic sounds from the city itself had to the City location of the taxis and car noises.

Editing- The Editing is slow, steady and clean cut. Throughout the opening cuts are used to establish the location and setting in which the film is set. The use of panning to show the actor and actresses names gives more screen time of the credits. Also the panning of the credits shows us the credits are running in the same perspective of the buildings in the City, which makes it look flawless.  The non- diegetic music fit together with the editing and as the music builds towards the middle the editing fastens, this adds suspense and tension which is key for a Thriller film.  

Mis-en-scene- The location is key in this opening as all the audience see is the location of Manhattan and the protagonist at the end of the opening. The building and credit colouring Fincher has chosen to film are plain and simple which makes the audience concentrate on the location. The view of the city is very traditional and iconic of New York City, there’s nothing unusual about the location. The lighting used is low key which again gages the attention of the audience to the location, connoting something is going to happen in the City.

Panic Room- Opening Sequence Director: David Fincher

Thriller 4- Se7en David Fincher

Camera- Establishing shot of a close up of a open book, page are open in a sepia colour form. There is then a Bird’s Eye View of draw hands in a book of some sort. Throughout this opening there are close ups of different images presenting the audience with an understanding that this character is creating a book.  As followed there is a close up an old fashioned razor and then a close of the character shaving his finger denoting the removal of his identity. The director has chosen to use cut editing or jump cut and there are a small amount of frames within a shot.  Close ups of teabags in water, writing, cutting up images, cutting film strips, there is a change in the colour for one frame the image is red connoting death and blood.  The images are shown quickly and therefore it is unclear of what this character is doing but we understand he is making something. The credits are in handwriting and are almost illiterate, very small handwriting. The title is understated and unclear denoting it is not important.

The director has chosen quick frame changes and a overlay of transparent images such as text, writing out names, crossing out, scribbling, collage of different images denoting that the character is making something and connoting his mental state at this period of time.

The camera close up shots, become a lot faster towards the end of the opening, denoting that the character want to get what he’s doing finished.

Editing- The editing is mainly jump cut and cut editing. It is almost layered and is fast paced throughout the opening. There are 2 or 3 frames for each image although it is fast it gives the audience just the right amount of time to see what the character is doing and imagine the picture.  The editing fits with the music and the images on the screen it is very clean cut.

Mis-en-scene- The opening is set in a room with a desk however the audience do not see the location we can infer the setting. The audience at this point are not sure of the time period, as the music is contemporary but the image of the old razor confuses the audience of what time period it may be set in.  The props used are scissors, newspapers, books, teabags, photos, images, building, and a old razor. All these props paint a picture in the audience heads that the character is creating a book of some sort.

Sound- There is non-diagetic urban, tech-no, music running the whole way through the opening. The music builds up towards the end the editing speed up. The Editing and the music fit together and as the music builds up pace and editing does to.  There is a dominant drum ‘n’ bass beat throughout and there are non-diagetic sounds that fit with the images on screen such as feedback, creaking noises, synthesised noises, screeching noises and backward sounds. These all add layers and pace suspense in the opening.

Se7en- Opening Sequence Director David Fincher

Thriller 3: The Dark Knight- Christopher Nolan

Camera- The Director, Nolan, uses a range of long shots and extreme long shots establishing the setting for the audience.  He also uses a bird’s eye view, when filming the sequence on the zip wire, giving the audience the perspective of Gotham City from above.  Close ups on specific features and props are used to  create suspense and tension, for example the  Director chooses to zoom in on the back of The Joker and a close up on the mask he is holding representing he is hiding his identity so it is inferred to the audience that he is a criminal.  The Director chooses to place the camera in the car, the use of mid shots and close ups connote the characters are planning something as a group in this case a bank robbery.  When the location is changed to inside the bank, the Director focuses on more specific camera angles and shots i.e. close ups and mid-shots.

Editing- The Editing is fast, snappy, rapid and sudden, the audience feel as if they are involved in the scene through the fast pace and the use of different camera shots.  The editing cuts from one location to another giving us the impression that there the different criminals are based in different locations. The editing goes back and forth to the inside and outside locations making it clear whats going on.

Sound- The music builds, to a peak to create tension and suspense in the opening. It is classic thriller music as it starts quiet and builds throughout.  The digetic dialogue keeps us informed on the plot and who is working for who.

Mis-en-scene- In the opening of The Dark Knight the use of the masks, are significant as they connote they are trying to hide their identities as they are criminals. The lighting is a mixture between low key and high key, in the bank the lighting is used within the setting from lamps.  The location is a cityscape, there are various different buildings used in the shots emphasizing the complexly for the robbery. We can tell it is building to something as the music creates tension and the use of quick pace editing adds suspense. The use of guns and robbery objects denotes that they are criminals and are not afraid to kill people.

Thriller 2 Sin City- Frank Miller

Camera- Opens with an establishing shot of the women on balcony, overlooking the city establishing the setting, Sin City. The use of the high angle suggests the character is being looked down on and something is foreboding. The director then chooses to use a 180 degrees mid shot towards the women now the other character is in shot. Miller uses a variety of mid-shots and close ups which connects the two characters; this connotes the meaning of a close relationship or an attraction between the two protagonists. The facial expression and body language helps establish what the character is like. In the closing shot of the opening sequence a significant shot is used, start with bird eye view of the two protagonists zooms out into the sky still using the BEV shot looking down onto the characters and further the buildings.

Editing- Frank Miller uses a graphic novel style i.e. the use of the black and white stark contrasting colours from example the lighting from the windows is in a similar way it would be drawn in a graphic novel like it has been edited to an enhanced white.  The pace of the editing is at a slow rate, juxtaposition with the intensions of the male character.  Throughout the opening the director uses graphic black and white images to draw the viewer into specific scenes this helps develop the narrative. The use of high key lighting, artificial lighting, emphases and highlight the facial expressions of the main characters.

Sound- Classic Film Noir style music, a non- digetic saxophone is used, to make a romantic atmosphere with a jazzy tone. It also reinforces the American location of the characters, we can also tell this from the American accents the characters have. A non- digetic sound is used by the male character when narrating; this is a classic film Noir trate Miller has tried to capture in Sin City. It also helps us understand the narrative from the male protagonist’s point of view.  The first sound we hear is the sounds of the city in the background over emphasing the location.

Mis-en-scene- The main character is wearing a red dress and red lipstick, whilst the rest of the scene is in stark contrast the black and white is like Film Noir. The use of the colour red connotes of danger, love, and blood, which is symbolic towards the end of the extract. The use of a small amount of colour places emphases on specific props and costumes. The CGI and graphic used throughout reinforce its a graphic novel and builds suspense creating an interesting narrative. The characters are wearing sophisticated clothing and are the only people in the scene reinforce the characters themselves. We can tell that something bad may happen to the women as there is an ominous tone.

Sin City Opening- Director Frank Miller

Thriller 1- Psycho Alfred Hitchcock

Camera- Steady Shot purely of the graphics camera does not pan or move throughout the opening. This simplistic graphic theme is used regularly by Hitchcock in other films such as

Editing- The graphic sequence is boldly monochromatic, bold black background and white text which emphases the contrast. In the graphic, the use of vertical and horizontal grey line entering from screen right, left and top and bottom which split the text on screen.  In the opening of Psycho, it begins with a black screen and then turns grey it is then split by animated parallel black lines which enter from the right hand side of the screen.  The text then enters not fully formed and unrecognisable parts of letters enter the screen from the right hand side in white.  Animated grey lines continue until the screen is black, leaving ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ name in stark contrast.  Grey block lines vertically leave the screen the lettering of ‘Psycho’ enters from right and left with the middle part of the lettering missing making it difficult and unclear to read.  The middle part of the lettering then comes in from the left making the title readable, black background stark white text ‘Psycho.’  The use of the lines splitting letters for the Director’s name and film title greatly emphasises the subject matter which is ‘Psycho’ – a split personality.  Then the use of vertical and horizontal lines are repeated throughout the title sequence.  This is a simple effective and contrasting technique reinforcing the point.  The Graphic Designer who designed the title sequence for Psycho was Saul Bass who worked with Hitchcock on many occasions. 

Sound-   The music enters straight away composed in a stabbing, staccato (short detached notes) strings.  This is a dramatic, harsh violent piece which connotes the split nature/violence of the protagonist.  Towards the middle of the opening title the music briefly changes to a legato articulation (smooth, flowing.)  The music compliments and graphics in the title sequence.  The music emphasis tension, drama, suspense and fear with a feeling of foreboding and sinister mood being played out in the opening title sequence.   

Mis-en-scene -   Graphics are shown refer to editing paragraph (as above.)

Psycho- Alfred Hitchcock  (Orignal in black and white)

What is Thriller?

Thriller and Suspense Films: These are types of films known to promote intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension. Thriller and suspense films are virtually synonymous and interchangeable categorizations, with similar characteristics and features.


If the genre is to be defined strictly, a genuine thriller is a film that rentlessly pursues a single-minded goal - to provide thrills and keep the audience cliff-hanging at the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax. The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menacing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible. Life itself is threatened, usually because the principal character is unsuspecting or unknowingly involved in a dangerous or potentially deadly situation. Plots of thrillers involve characters which come into conflict with each other or with outside forces - the menace is sometimes abstract or shadowy.


This information was gathered from http://www.filmsite.org/thrillerfilms.html 


What have Learnt from this Research?

I have researched 'What Thrillers are?' this is important that I understand the codes of the Thriller genre. From this Research I have learnt what thrillers and suspence films are and the characteritics of the Thriller Genre. This have given me ideas for what my group needs to include in this opening of a Thriller film that we are making, and how we can make sure it is in the thriller genre,which is very important when making our film.

Thriller Research- Genre

Genre :  The concept of Genre:

- A set of conventions - recognisable usually through iconography, familiar narrative, mise-en-scene, actors and style of representation

- Genres are not static, but constantly renegotiated between industry and audience - a combination of familiar reassurance and new twists.

- A creative strategy used by film producers to ensure audience identification with a film - a mean of trying to predict risk.

- Genre functions like a language - a set of rules and a vocabulary with which to organise meaning.

- Genre is a way of working through important myths and fears by repetition, variation and resolution

- Genre offers comforting reassurance in an uncomfortable world. Threat is quashed, outlaws become civilized, and gangsters are punished. Genre is a way of tidying up the mess of life.

- Robert Altman believes that genre is defined in terms of certain signs (iconography)

- Iconography- “Those particular signs that we associate with particular genres- a pattern of visual elements common to genre.” These signs are usually found in the mis-en-scene of a text. For Example Horror Young girls ‘Normal’ setting, use of high and low lighting blood and knifes .ect.

- Hybridisation- Means the coming together of two or more different genres to create a new genre, such as romantic comedy.  As well as hybrid genres there are sub genres to main stream genres for example horror- Gothic Horror.

Thrillers are often hybrids - there are lots of varieties of suspense-thrillers:

-action- or adventure- thrillers

-sci-fi thrillers (such as Alien (1979))

-crime-caper thrillers (such as The French Connection (1971))

-western-thrillers (such as High Noon (1952))

-film-noir thrillers (such as Double Indemnity (1944))

-even romantic comedy-thrillers (such as Safety Last (1923))

-Genre Theorists: Schartz and Wright

These Theorists look at genre in a compartmentalised way, thus no over with specific ways of indentifying the genre.

-Regenrification-  When the boundaries of genre are merged together.

 Codes and Conventions of the Thriller Genre:

Lighting- Dark, spotlights on individuals, varied lighting i.e. dark and light, Film Noir.

Music- Builds up tension, dramatic, fast paced, create an atmosphere, dialogue.

Camera Work – Tracking and pan shots, zoom in and out during action scenes, variety of long and short shots. Close Ups, Bird eye view and worm eye view. Use of high and low angles to place interest and understand characters.

Editing- Jump cut, Quick cutting rate due to multiple things happening, jump cuts fill us in on the story line.

Method Used- Ransoms, captives, heists, revenge, kidnappings etc

Other conventions- Plot twists, Red Herrings, Cliff hangers.

Moods- Adrenaline rush, high levels of anticipation, anxiety, terror, expectation, builds to a climax (keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the film.)