To improve our understanding of what a Thriller is and how different atmospheres typical of the genre are created, we watched some extracts from successful Thrillers from Directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, David Fincher and Michael Mann. The analysis' of these Thrillers can be found below;
Alfred Hitchcock - The Birds
Camera Angles - Shots taken from the side help the audience feel involved in the scene, like they themselves are next to the protagonist. Low and high angle shots help to make characters look vulnerable or superior.
Camera Shots - Tracking shots are used to help the audience feel involved, as if they are following the action. Panning shots help to set the scene and cause an eerie atmosphere when put with incidental music or silence. Extreme Long Shots (ELS's) are used to make a character seem vulnerable and alone again adding to the eerie atmosphere of a Thriller. Close ups (CUs) are used to see facial expression enhancing a protagonists reaction to the plot. Hand held cameras are used to increase a sense of panic and confusion. Shot reverse shots are used between the woman sitting on a bench and the crows gathering in the park behind her as this builds tension.
Sound - The sound of children singing is juxtaposed helps to create an eerie atmosphere and build tension; the innocence of the children is juxtaposed to the hostility of the birds. Incidental music is used and music increases in volume, pitch and pace when action begins to enhance the panic and confusion of the birds attacking the children.
CGI - Although 'The Birds' was made in 1963, CGI is still used as the birds are seen attacking the children. This swarm of birds is digitally placed into the scene and at some points it is clear that the children are wrestling with props not real crows.
Editing - There is a slow pace at the beginning of the sequence which contrasts to that of the panic at the end of the scene creating tension. There are simple edits, no transitions are used however the pace of the edits speeds up as the action increases enhancing the panic and confusion.
David Fincher - Panic Room
Title Sequence - Special Effects (SFX) are used within the opening sequence to blend the titles into the location in which the film is set. This could depict how the protagonists blend into their location yet are different from their surroundings.
Characters - Relationships between the characters are shown through dialogue. At the beginning of this sequence the audience is given an insight into these relationships and therefore possible story lines through the lack of control the protagonist implements on her teenage daughter.
Mise-en-scene - The way in which characters are dressed also shows the audience their characteristics; the protagonist wheres plain black clothing with hair tucked behind her ears and glasses. This shows her as an intelligent but uninteresting character. The woman with her however wears much more extravagant clothing depicting her as a more outrageous and promiscuous character. This is reflected in the way n which she addresses the teenage daughter 'no scooter kid'. The panic room its self is a dark room juxtaposed to the large light rooms from the rest of the house that the audience view; this gives the room its own negative atmosphere and gives the audience another insight into the storyline.
Sound - Music continues throughout the scene until the door of the panic room is shut building tension. Through the title sequence a tone can be heard like the beating of a heart increasing showing a building tension and suspense.
Michael Mann - Collateral
Sound - Diegetic sounds of the airport and planes landing are used to set the location. The music is a repetitive beat which makes the seen intense and more dramatic. In the cab there is silence reflective of the importance of the cab within the narrative. The music from the cab's radio is used as the music for the film again reiterating the fact that the cab is of importance to the narrative.
Mise-en-scene - Tom Cruise wears sun glasses and holds a briefcase. The way in which his eyes are hidden shows him as a mysterious character and the audience is left to question what is in the briefcase. The cab driver is seen doing a crossword portraying him as an intelligent character; this is enhanced as the cab driver wears glasses, a symbol of intelligence to the audience.
Camera Angles - After the body has fallen onto the cab, the dialogue which is held between Jamie Fox and Tom Cruise is centred around the cab. This shows that the cab is central to the story line; all camera angles show the cab at the centre of the action.
