Opening of a Thriller

Thriller is a very vast topic and genre of literature, television and film. Thrillers often produce a variety of moods, often heightened feelings of fear, tension, and dread, startled response and anticipation. There are many examples of thriller films such as, The Loft (2015), Psycho (1960), Black swan (2010), Rear window (1954) and I saw the devil (2010).These are just a selection but there are many more thriller available; but what really makes a good thriller. A good thriller is produced in many key areas but more specific areas must include low key lighting. This therefore produces a very dark and sinister mood within the thriller, but also adds a sense of secrecy for the characters to shield behind, bumping up the tension more. In contrast, the lighting should also have tones, yes darkness is important but also, adding glimpses of bright, harsh light contradicts the darkness. Additionally, the narrative of the thriller must also be instinctively recognizable, making it easier for the audience to follow and be gripped upon easily. However, some confusion at the beginning is great if it produces suspense, making the viewer eager to pay attention to want to watch more. The location is also essential in a scene as it creates a backdrop for the film but also makes it more distinctive of what the thriller is about. A location allows the audience to understand the concept of the thriller. Many openers to film present text, but if text is added to show the actors and producers names, it must be written in an appropriate text in order to remain within the theme. However, if bold, pink writing was used it would not successfully relate to the thriller genre like a dark grey, subtle font would.        

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo-BFsw7WyU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJcj0dzvTc0

However, the beginning scene in which I have selected to critically discuss is an opener to thriller called ‘Prisoners’. For which is based upon an abduction of two young girls in Pennsylvania, which leads to a manic search in order to save the girls in time. But, many twists and turns change the path along the way.

Many of the camera angles within the first two minutes of the scene are wide shots, over the shoulder and mid shots. The first shot within the scene is a wide shot of the location and a vehicle. Most of the surrounding lighting is through the windows of the location, for which reflect upon the edges of the vehicle making it harder to distinguish what type of car it is and this true purpose. Therefore, beginning the suspense of what is going to happen through the scene, but also the light and the dark foreshadows the genre and time period of the scene. The light and dark also display an even and effective contrast of good and bad scenarios that may take place. However, the camera then moves to the inside of location it begins with a mid-shot travelling slowly into an over the shoulder shot, this creates the idea of intrigue for the audience as they are unable to see the characters face and also question  the character in a spectrum of categories. It also creates a stereotypical idea of what should be among a thriller. When the male figure sits,  in the vehicle it begins with a mid-shot of the character side on and leads to an over-the-shoulder shot, for which is quite blurry making it unable to see the characters face properly, showing he may be planning something sinister on the radio. The mid-shot is full of available lighting but the over-the-shoulder shot lacks any type of lighting, foreshadowing light and shade in the character, therefore, he may not be a good or bad as the audience assume him to be. In addition, the over-the-shoulder shot of him transfers to another over-the-shoulder shot of another character. The darkness of the new character remains, displaying he is only bad rather than having any light to the character. But, also the characters face is unrecognizable, enhancing the idea of suspense. All of the shots throughout the whole scene are very long and extend further than a few seconds. This is very unusual for a film, but because it is a thriller genre, the scenes are extended to create more drama and suspense in the scene as it makes the audience expect thing to happen, when they don’t the audience is on their seat more, due to being clueless of what may take place where and when.  

Wide shot including location and Vehicle. 

Wide shot as the shot begins to travel into an over the shoulder shot.

Travelling into an over the shoulder shot. 

Furthermore, in the opener, sound bridge took place with the effect of rain as it expanded over to each scene to maintain and remain the dark, stormy night that is within the scene, adhering to the gloomy setting stereotype. This allows the audience to easily distinguish that something drastic and dramatic will take place at some point but the time period is unknown for when. Once the leading character is finished in the dining facilities he leaves, to walk back to his vehicle although when his making his journey, Non-diegetic and a voice over sound of a radio call can be heard for a female voice, letting the audience a little more clearer of who the character is by displaying his occupation of being a police officer. Although there is no indication of a uniform, stating he may be of a higher rank then a police officer and perhaps a detective from the dark, long jacket his is wearing, a stereotype of a detective, as well as some who is the rain. The sound from outside of the vehicle continues into the exterior of the vehicle from where the male figure responds to the call out. This implies that the call is towards him rather than anyone else as well as, making the scene more natural as if he was to be able to get the call the second he sat down it would be to  staged in the scene rather than a raw, natural feel seen in a day-to-day situation within the police force. Additionally, later on in the scene ambient sound is visible when he approaches the caravan. The track heard is very eerie as it replicates sounds of knifes being sharpened, and sharp, high-pitched frequencies; the noise becomes more intense as well as louder and clearer to the audiences ear. This type of music has been incorporated to heighten the mood of mystery and that someone dangerous or something dangerous is in the vehicle, remaining the idea of thriller and the fear of the unknown; what a thriller is primarily about.The assumptions in which we link to the idea of knifes is stabbing but a consist and manic approach of the noise increasing, creates a sense of lack of control and panic not in, just the audience but the person with the control over the knife. The effectiveness of this quality is putting the audience on edge and creating a sense of something is going to happen; a sense of the unknown.   

The shot where sound bridge is present. 

Voice over of the radio call. 

Ambient sound is present in this scene. 

The Mise-en-scene within the scene is the clothing of the main character, as it is very dark as his t-shirt is black and he is wearing jeans, which seem quite casual compared to what his job is. However, the assisting officers in the scene are very profession with wearing the correct uniform. Only then can I distinguish that he is actually a police officer. However, the props also assist this idea, as his holding a gun which within the United States are legalized with a license, making it more normal to be seen in the hand of any citizen, subverting the idea of him actually being a police officer. However, the radio used is some situations of the clip also predict his in the Police force, as not all industries actually use radios of that type, being placed within the vehicle. This adhere the traditional idea of communication with the police force, and linking back to him being an officer. In contrast, the setting throughout the scene is a very traditional concept of horrors or thrillers being dark, stormy and having some weather change; such as thunder, lighting or rain. This indicts a dramatic situation will withhold in the scene, but it also shows that it makes the character less visible to the audience, making them wonder who they are. It also adheres to the stereotype of a Thriller. Throughout the whole clip, little lighting was available and the available light used appeared mainly from the petrol station, suggesting a very public place, perhaps the suspect has no fear of being found or they haven’t committed an crime for them to be arrested for. The little light sources imply that the surrounding area is very urbanized, meaning not many live near and no much light is required due to the little amount of people in the area. On the other hand, the editing within the full clip is little to be seen as they have been very professional with the camera and wanted everything to be as authentic as possible. However, a shot-reverse-shot has been when the main character walk towards the vehicle and the man in the car is looking through the side mirror, the camera snaps back to the male officer. This shows that the suspect can see the officer, but he cannot make out his face completely. Adding to the idea of who is this man and why the officer is approaching the caravan. This also allows the man to understand that someone is walking towards him. Finally, at the beginning to the whole video, a jump-cut is used to observe the officer in his vehicle. For which implies that the audience must remain focus on him carefully, as he will have a huge involvement in the whole film, but also giving him the blame of him being the suspect, making the audience suspicious of everyone in the video. This adhere the idea of thriller, as each person may have involvement and causing confusion of who the enemy is.         

Only artificial light available.

The technical elements that id feel were most effective were the ambient sound of the rain and the travelling over-the-shoulder shots. The sound of the rain added and enhanced the atmosphere within the whole scene.The rain adds the continuity to make something feel and replicate real life, such as the rain may only be not hear if inside but even then it maybe but softened. The idea of rain is used to create an atmosphere of darkness as well as, poor visibility, meaning more patience and attention is needed to understand the beginning of the film. However, the travelling over-the-shoulder shots created the idea of the unknown as at this point we are unaware of who is the offender and who is the cop. The travelling of the shot opens up the story line-unfolding elements in small cuts. The travelling of the shot also builds tension in the sense of  showing small segments that progress into something bigger and clear, allowing the audience to work out the film for themselves as well as, it being a clear indication that the persons identity is about to be revealed. From this I defiantly want to incorporate continuity as it keeps a clean and consistent feeling to the film, it also makes a great story line. Although, over-the-shoulder shots are good if it is not appropriate to what is needed then I feel that it wont work, so will be used if appropriate in what we get to achieving. In contrast, the aspects that I would experiment with is the sound as feel that dramatic bangs or pauses would climax the tension and increase the drama within the scene. They clearly have the money so perhaps more extreme versions of music would increase and heighten elements alongside the mood of the film.