Genre Development Report

Genre Report

The thriller genre has changed in many ways over the decades that they have been created in. This is mainly due to the changes in attitude in society, as well as the way audiences interpret different themes.

The main way that thriller movies have changed is by the themes that it covers. Thriller movies in the 1950’s, such as ‘Vertigo’, are much less violent than more modern thrillers, such as ‘Taken’, which is much more graphic and covers harsher themes. This is due to the fact that it is more acceptable to show graphic violence in this decade, as people are used to seeing it in the news, and it will not shock audiences as much now as it would have done 20 or 30 years ago, where such themes might have been considered more disturbing.

The editing pace in more modern thriller movies is also often faster than the editing pace in old fashioned thriller movies. For example, in ‘Adrift’, the editing pace tends to be very fast during the intense moments of the film, whereas in ‘Jaws’, the editing pace is slowed right down when the shark is about to appear for the first time, and close-up’s are shown of different areas of the boat. The slow editing pace in older thriller movies is used to build up the tension of the scene, as the audience are waiting to find out what happens next, so there is a lot of suspense. Nowadays, the editing pace in thriller movies tends to be fast, leaving the audience wondering what is happening as the scene moves quickly. Another reason that the editing pace is faster in modern thriller movies is due to the 'MTV generation' who are used to seeing fast-paced shows and music video's. I think that both of these methods are effective in different ways; the slower editing pace making the audience want to know what is going to happen next and the faster editing pace making them wonder what is happening as they are only seeing short clips.

Another thing to consider about why and how thriller movies have changed over the decades, is that the aim of a thriller movie is to shock, move, and ‘thrill’ an audience, and different things did this based on the time period that they were created in. A few decades ago, themes including the unknown were used, as this shocked audience at this time. However, in this decade, thriller movies contain more violent themes such as kidnap, rape, and post-apocalyptic worlds such as ‘The Book of Eli’ and ‘The Road’. These harsher themes have started to be incorporated into thriller movies, as they have become more common in real life, with people hearing about incidents from places such as the news. . For example, post-apocalyptic thrillers are more recent because of the increase of fear of global warming. This means that audiences can relate to the topic, and put themselves into the characters situations. This generation are also more cautious and protective about their children due to the rise in crimes such as abduction, which is another reason that film makers may choose these themes for their movie.

The representation of men and women in movies has also changed in the thriller genre over the decades. In older thriller movies, such as ‘Die Hard’, it is usually the man who is the main character and hero, as well as a man playing the ‘bad guy’; women in older thriller movies usually play the ‘damsel in distress’. This reflects the social attitudes of this time period, as women were seen as the ones in need of rescuing, and men were seen as strong and hero-like, looking after their family. However, in more recent thriller-action movies such as ‘Wanted’ and ‘Salt’, the main character is played by a woman. These films show women as smart and strong, as they are the hero’s of the films; in ‘Salt’, the main character who is a woman is thought to be the villain of the movie until the very end, which is uncommon for thriller movies in earlier decades. This shows that attitudes to women have changed in society, as these films reflect more modern attitudes. However, the women in these films are still represented as beautiful, as this allows the movie to appeal to a wider target audience.

Social issues are another thing that has evolved with time. Modern thriller movies may look at themes such as human trafficking and drugs, such as ‘Taken’, whereas older thrillers might look at crimes such as robbery, and hostage situations, as these were the most common type of social issues at that time. Thriller movies involve current social issues to ensure that an audience can relate to the movie, as it will make it more interesting to them.

As well as the change in attitudes of society, people’s fears have also changed over the decades. In earlier decades, people’s main fears included death and the fear of the unknown. However, the fears that people have nowadays are more associated with themes such as paedophiles, the dangers of new technology, and the destruction of the world, as these are issues that are more associated with this time period. Thriller movies have to ensure that the themes covered are relevant, as they want the audience to be able to relate to the characters and the situation, so that it is more interesting to them. For example, ‘I Robot’ looks at how technology can be a threat to society, and ‘Changeling’ looks at a mother who has lost her child, which are both themes that current audiences would be interested in.

Overall, the thriller genre has changed in many ways, reflecting social attitudes and problems at that time, to ensure that audiences can relate to the movie, and that they find it more interesting.

Adrift analysis

Film Analysis – Adrift (2006)

‘Adrift’ is a thriller movie, based on several people being stranded in the middle of the ocean as they forgot to put down the ladder on their boat before jumping into the sea.

The target audience for this film would be people in their late teens and young adults. This is mainly because of the rating of the film, which is a 15, and also because of the themes involved such as violence and death. Thriller movies typically have an older target audience than many other genres as they often cause distress to the audience and cover strong themes. The characters in the movie also reflect the target audience as they are fairly young adults, so the audience can relate to them and feel that what happens to the characters could happen to them.

The structure of ‘Adrift’ appears to be a linear narrative, as the story is shown from beginning to end. I think that this movie has chosen to use this structure as jumping around in time would have made it lose the scary effect, as they want to show the audience how long they are stuck in the sea for. However, ‘flashbacks’ of the woman’s memory are shown in some places, slowly revealing to the audience why the main woman is scared of the sea. This also helped to create tension as the audience are trying to figure out what happened to her, but only find out at the end of the film, during one of the most intense moments to add to the ‘thrill’. This makes the structure non-linear, although the story does show events in the correct order for the majority of the film.

This film, along with many others in the thriller genre, incorporates a certain fear into the movie; in this case, it is a fear of the sea. This creates more tension as it makes the situation scarier when the characters are faced with their fear – the audience may also be able to relate to their fears.

The end section of the movie, where the main character manages to get back on the boat, contains many aspects that are typical of the thriller genre. Mise-en-scene was considered carefully as every aspect of the scene created a tense atmosphere. The scene, as well as the majority of the movie, is set out in the middle of the sea. This shows isolation and lets the audience know that there is no one around to help the characters.

In this scene there is also heavy rain and high waves. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, as they are waiting to see if they survive. The use of the bad weather also makes the situation more pressurised, as the characters only have one chance to get back onto the boat, and their chances of making it are getting lower.

Low-key lighting was used in this scene, which makes it hard for the audience to see exactly what is happening, adding to the tension. A fast editing pace was also used, showing the panic of the character that was trying to get her friend back onto the boat as he was swimming away. The clips changed between real-time and flashbacks of the main characters childhood, revealing more about her fear of the sea. This technique builds up the tension in the scene and lets the audience know that something important to the movie is about to happen.

This film is different to some thriller movies, as the girl manages to get onto the boat and release the ladder for her friend to climb up as well. She also went back into her room on the boat to see her baby who was left on the boat. Having the baby left on board also made the situation more pressurised and gave the movie a higher sense of urgency. After seeing this, the audience assume that the movie will have a happy ending, but this is where the movie is different to others in the thriller genre; soon after this, the girl ends up trying to rescue her friend by jumping back into the water, and the tension is rebuilt. By the end of the movie, all of the adults aboard the boat have died, and the baby is left alone.

In this scene a combination of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used (music and dialogue). The dialogue (diegetic sound) is heard loudly at first but it then fades out, showing the audience what the other character is hearing. The non-diegetic sounds of mainly violins and soft voices are used to show that the characters chances of survival are fading, especially when the girl jumps back into the sea.

Camera angles were also considered in this scene to ensure that the tension was kept high in the audience. When the characters are in the water, the camera is at their head level, showing a point of view shot instead of being above them. This technique worked well for a thriller movie, as it made it seem more realistic and the audience would have felt like they were there themselves. Close up shots were used to show emotion of the characters, such as when the woman manages to get back onto the boat. A close up shot was used here to show her relief of being able to put the ladder down and being out of the sea, so that the audience assumed everything would now be ok. A long shot of the woman’s body was shown as she jumped back into the sea. This showed the vulnerability of the woman, which represented her low chance of survival to the audience. This was also shown in slow motion for a more dramatic effect.

This movie includes codes and conventions that are typical of the thriller genre, such as isolation and a life-threatening situation. It also has a unique selling point, which is that there is a baby left on board whilst they are stranded. This aspect makes the movie realistic, which will increase the thrill factor for audiences, as forgetting to put down the ladder is such a simple mistake that had such big consequences; it is also a fairly easy situation to be in.

Jodi Ferguson.

Jaws analysis

Film Analysis – Jaws (1975)

‘Jaws’ is a thriller movie based on a great white shark that is causing havoc at a beach, and the mission that a group of three men (including the police chief of the local community) go on to stop the shark from attacking any more people.

The target audience for this film ranges from children in their early teens, to older adults, unlike other thriller movies that tend to have a more specific older target audience. This is because it has been given the age rating of ‘PG’, although some younger viewers may find some of the scenes too graphic.

Although the movie is based around the shark, a lot of it is about the suspense of waiting for the shark to appear, which is why I think it has been given such a low age rating.

There are some minor children roles in the movie, but the three main characters are all middle-aged men. This reflects the target audience of the movie as well, as it is men who are more likely to enjoy a movie about a shark. Another way that the target audience can be identified is by the outcome of the movie. Although one of the men dies, the other two survive and are shown making it safely back to the shore, leaving the audience at peace.

Like other thriller movies that I have looked at, ‘Jaws’ has a linear narrative structure. I think that this structure worked well, as the audience are continuously focused on what the shark will do next, and they don’t know what to expect later in the movie.

A code and convention of a thriller movie is that it contains an element of fear. In this movie, the fear is of the shark, and whether or not all three of the men will survive. The audience expects to be in suspense in thriller movies, and not know the full outcome until the very end of the movie, if they find out at all, and this movie complies with that.

I am going to look at the section of this movie, where one of the men sees the shark for the first time, as I think that this section is typical of the thriller genre.

Mise-en-scene was considered in this scene. Like many other thriller movies, the characters are isolated; they are on a fairly small boat in the sea, which makes them vulnerable – especially as there is a shark around. The boat is also fairly unprotected; mainly wooden with low sides. The men also don’t seem to have the equipment needed to bring down such a big shark, but the characters don’t seem to be aware of this so the audience know something that the characters don’t. I think that the theme of isolation is effective in thriller movies, and I will look at this for my own movie.

The main colour theme of the whole movie is a greyish blue; from the sea and the shark to the clothes that the characters are wearing. In this particular scene the colour red is also used as a contrast, as dead fish are thrown into the sea as bate for the shark. This symbolises danger, and the shark soon approaches.

Several close-up shots are used in this scene. Firstly, it is to build up the suspense. Showing the audience each little step that one of the men is taking as he prepares for the shark does this. He attaches himself to the boat, and then the fishing pole to him; this lets the audience know that something significant is about to happen.

Close-up shots are also used when one of the men first sees the shark. It lets the audience see the fear on his face as he discovers that it is a lot bigger than expected, and also shows the shark, making the movie scarier for the audience as they now know the size of it.

High and low angle shots are also used in this section. When one of the men are shown looking down from above, it shows the characters vulnerability again as you can see how small the boat actually is in comparison to the shark.

Both close-ups and long shots are used in this scene to show the shark. Once the audience have seen a quick close-up of the shark, long shots are used to show it approaching the boat, building the tension. I think that only showing the audience a very quick clear shot of the shark worked well, because as the movie progresses, the audiences own minds would have made the shark seem scarier.

A fairly slow editing pace was used at the beginning of this section, which added to the scary effect of the shark. The shots used were generally quite long, but as a lot was happening, it still had an effect on the audience. This isn't typical of the thriller genre, however, the editing pace of thriller movies has increased over the decades, as it is better suited to audiences at that time. I think that using a slow editing pace was effective, as it built up the tension as the audience were waiting to find out what was going to happen next.

As this section was set on a boat, natural lighting was used. This movie was able to set a scene in broad daylight – where most people feel safest, and still create a ‘thrilling’ atmosphere. This is because it made the movie seem more realistic, which people find frightening.

At the beginning of the scene, there is only the diegetic sound of the equipment and dialogue, again, making it more realistic. However, later in the scene non-diegetic music starts, building up the tension when the shark approaches with the well known two-tone ‘Jaws’ music.

This movie contains many codes and conventions of the thriller genre, including isolation and vulnerability of the characters. The movie also reflects the time that it was made, as it is men who go out to find the shark, whereas if it was made again in this decade, it may have also included women. In a more modern thriller movie, women would probably have had a bigger role in the action of a thriller movie as men and women are seen as equals and societies attitudes towards women have changed. Overall, this is a very successful thriller movie that, in its time, was unique.

Jodi Ferguson.

Children of Men analysis

Film Analysis – Children of Men (2006)

‘Children of Men’ is a thriller movie based on a refugee who is pregnant in a world that was now thought to be infertile, and the journey that she takes to get to ‘the human project’ where she will be safe.

The target audience for this movie is people from their late teens to middle-aged adults. This is shown mainly from the rating of the film (15), as well as the themes covered and the ages of the characters themselves. I think that the age rating of this movie is suitable, as it covers some topics that younger people may find hard to watch (such as murder), and I also think that younger audiences would find the storyline hard to understand.

The structure of ‘Children of Men’ is a linear narrative, running in chronological order. This means that the audience finds out what happens as it happens, and they don’t know what to expect, as they haven’t seen clips from the past or future. I think this structure works well in this thriller movie, as it means that the audience don’t know how all the different characters will react to the newborn baby, and they don’t know the outcome until the very end, which builds the suspense.

From looking at this thriller movie and comparing it to others, I have found that they share several codes and conventions. These include themes such as isolation, and contain elements such as vulnerable characters. Many also involve some sort of a deadline that the characters have, which they have to stick to, to survive. This movie contains many of these codes and conventions, and the idea of an infertile world gives it a unique selling point.

I am going to look at the section of this movie where the male lead rescues the woman who has just had her baby, and has to lead her through all of the fighting and shooting.

Mise-en-scene has been considered in this section. The setting is a run down block of rooms that have been blown apart in places from the fighting. Many dark colours are used, such as greys and browns, which represents the unhappiness of the world without children. The clothes that the characters wear have also been considered, as they are also dull and worn. All of these aspects have helped to make the scene more realistic, and the contrast of the reactions to the baby and all of the violence also makes this scene emotive.

Several different camera angles are used in this section. Close-ups show the audience the emotions on the characters faces, and long shots are used to establish the setting. A point of view shot is also used (similar to ‘Adrift’), looking down the corridors and stairs at all of the people, who stop fighting for just one moment, to let the baby through.

The editing pace changes throughout this section, with a fast editing pace during the fighting and shooting, and a contrast of a slower editing pace when people see the newborn baby. This is effective as it shows the contrast between the two things; the violence, and the ‘miracle’ baby, which is emotive for the audience.

The lighting in this section is low key, which seems to be a convention of thriller movies. It makes the scene seem duller, showing that the world has lost hope, as they have turned to violence.

Sound in this section is mainly diegetic, with dialogue, bombs and shooting, and the sound of the baby crying, which sets the violent tone. However, non-diegetic music starts as the people stop fighting, and step aside for the baby. The music is mainly of voices with string instruments in the background. This is used to show how the attitudes of the people fighting change as they see the baby.

This movie is fairly recent, so it reflects the attitudes and worries of this time, although it is set in the future. One way that it does this is with the idea of an infertile world, as people are worried that the medicines and chemicals that we use, along with global warming, could have a negative effect on the world and humans.

Overall, I think that this movie contains many of the codes and conventions associated with the thriller genre, as well as including its own unique selling point.

Jodi Ferguson.

Escape From Alcatraz analysis

Film Analysis – Escape From Alcatraz (1979)

‘Escape From Alcatraz’ is an adventure thriller movie, based on the true story of three men escaping from Alcatraz prison.

The age rating of this movie is 15, which reflects the target audience. I think that the target audience ranges form people in their late teens, to older adults. This is because it is older people who would find this movie most interesting, and they may know information about the story that the movie was based on. The majority of the characters in this movie are middle-aged men, which also shows that the movie is aimed at this type of audience, as they can relate to the characters.

This movie covers strong themes, such as torture; however, it is shown in a way that isn’t gruesome for the audience to see, as the main focus is on the storyline, rather than disgusting the audience, which is why the age certificate isn’t higher.

The structure of ‘Escape From Alcatraz’ is a linear narrative. This was the best structure to use for this movie, as it was based on a true story, which allows the audience to see what it was like as realistically as possible. Using a linear narrative structure seems to be a code and convention of a thriller movie, although there are some exceptions. I think that this is because it doesn’t allow the audience to see too much into the future, which may weaken the effect of the important parts of the movie.

One code and convention of thriller movies that has come in many of the movies that I have looked at, is isolation; although it isn’t as obvious as it is in movies such as ‘Adrift’. The prisoners are isolated form each other in their cells, and the prison itself is isolated by water, making the idea of escaping seem even harder to imagine.

Another code and convention that I have found in several thriller movies, is the tension that is caused. This is often when the characters are on a time limit to get something done, or when they are close to getting caught or hurt. This appears regularly in this movie, as the prisoners cannot let the guards know their plans.

I am going to look at the section of this movie where the main character first proposes his idea to escape from the prison to his friends in the canteen, to the part where he sits outside looking at the city across from the prison.

Mise-en-scene was considered in this section. The colours were all pastel colours; blues, creams, greys, and blacks, but the prison still looked dull and dreary. In the canteen, it is clear that the prisoners do not enjoy the food, but they still put up with it.

This section also shows the authority that the guards have over the prisoners, and specific camera angles are used to make them seem more powerful, such as a low angle shot of the guard, showing that he has more power than the prisoners.

Another way that mise-en-scene has been considered in this section, is that the gates around the outside of the prison are extremely high, showing the city skyline through the wires. This gives the impression to the audience that escape would be impossible, as the security is too high, and safety is too far away.

The editing pace used in this section is fairly slow, drawing out all of the detail and the concentration that the main character is showing. It also creates tension, because when the audience are looking at a close-up of the main character digging at his cell wall, thy can’t see what the guards are doing, and so they don’t know how close the prisoner is to getting caught.

There are only a few close-up shots in this section, which are used to show what the characters are thinking, especially the main character. The rest of the camera angles used are medium shots or long shots, which establish the setting, and give the audience an idea of what the prison is like.

The sounds in this section are only diegetic, with no sound effects being added on top of the movie. In the canteen, these sounds are mainly of the clattering of cutlery and other canteen objects, which sets the scene for the audience. There is also the sound of dialogue throughout the whole section. When the main character is in his cell, there is the sound of wall chunks hitting the floor as he picks them off. Another significant sound when he is in his cell is of footsteps. This makes the audience anxious about whether he will get caught.

The lighting is natural in the canteen part of this section, making the scene more realistic. However, in the cell, the lighting is much more low key – almost complete darkness for some of it. Shadows also help to create a scary effect in this part, as it makes the audience wonder when the guards will come back past his cell.

This movie contains many of the codes and conventions of a thriller movie, as well as some aspects of the adventure genre. The prisoners who manage to escape do so without being caught, and the movie is based on a true story, which also gives it a unique selling point.

Jodi Ferguson.

Speed analysis

Film Analysis – Speed (1994)

‘Speed’ is an action crime thriller movie, based on a criminal who puts a bomb onto a bus, which will explode if the speed falls below 50mph. LAPD cop, Jack Traven, tries to save the hostages and find the psychotic killer.

The target audience for this movie is young adults. This is shown by the movies age rating, which is a 15, as well as the ages of the main characters that are both young adults themselves.

I think that the movie is suited to its target audience, as the themes covered, such as murder, are not suitable for younger audiences; however, the movie isn’t so violent that people in their late teens can’t enjoy it as well.

‘Speed’ has a linear narrative structure, which means that it runs in a chronological order. Using this type of narrative structure adds to the tension, suspense, and ‘thrill’ of the movie, because the audience don’t know what will happen next.

Looking at several thriller movies has shown me that different narrative structures have been used over time, and that both can be effective in the genre.

Several codes and conventions have been used in this movie that have also been used in other films of the same genre. One convention of thriller movies that has occurred a lot is the sense of a time limit. The bus mustn’t drop below 50mph, and on several occasions it becomes close to having to stop, as well as needing petrol. This adds pressure to the situation and increases the urgency.

Another code and convention of a thriller that is shown in this movie, is that it contains a common fear. In the first part of the movie, people are held hostage in a lift. Many people are afraid of lifts, and the hostages were also isolated, so the audience can relate to the situation, which makes it scarier.

I have chosen to look at the beginning scene, where the hostages are taken out of the lift, in further detail.

Mise-en-scene was considered in this section. The main colours were orange inside the lift (which symbolises danger); blues and blacks were used outside of the lift as a contrast. The fact that this section was set in a lift made it more intense, as it could fall at any moment. This makes the audience wary, as it is unpredictable. There was a lot of screaming, and injuries were shown as well, adding to the effect the scene had on the audience.

Mainly close-up shots were used in this part of the movie, with only a few long shots in between to establish the setting and show the lift falling.

Close-up shots were used to show the bomb being triggered, as well as showing the floor number that the lift was on as it descended, adding to the intensity of the scene. Close-ups were also used to show the emotion on the faces of the hostages, as well as the policemen and the killer.

Another long shot that was used was when the last woman in the lift didn’t want to walk away from the wall because she is scared. Using a long shot here worked well, as it showed how she felt that she was far away from the exit, when she only needed to take a few steps to escape.

High angle shots were used to show the hostages. It showed them getting out of the lift, and also showed the audience that they would survive.

This section of the movie has a fairly fast editing pace. This is effective as it makes the scene more intense, as everything is happening fast, so the audience aren’t quite sure what is happening.

The lighting in this section has been used to set the tone of the scene. Low-key lighting is used in areas of danger, such as the lift, and natural lighting has been used elsewhere.

The sound in this section is only diegetic. There are sounds of talking and screaming from the hostages, as well as the noises from the lift breaking and the bombs going off. This also makes the scene more intense for the audience.

Themes included in this movie include the common fear of being held hostage, as well as murder and death. These themes are what identify this movie as a thriller.

Jodi Ferguson.

Independence Day analysis

Film Analysis – Independence Day (1996)

‘Independence Day’ is a sci-fi thriller about an alien invasion that threatens to end the human race.

The target audience for this movie ranges from teenagers to middle-aged adults. This is because of the topics of the movie (alien invasion, war, death) as well as the ages of the characters in the movie, which range from teenagers to adults. The age rating of this movie is a 12, which also indicates that the target audience is from teens to adults.

I think that the age rating is appropriate for the movie and the target audience, as it is too violent for younger viewers, but still suitable and interesting for teens.

The structure of ‘Independence Day’ is a linear narrative, which seems to be typical of thriller movies during this time period. The use of this structure means that there is a bigger element of surprise for the audience, as they don’t know what will happen next.

Like many other thriller movies, ‘Independence Day’ incorporates a fear that many people have; in this case, it is alien invasion. This code and convention of thriller movies, means that the audience can relate to it much more.

I am going to look in further detail at the section of this movie that shows the alien’s space ship opening up for the first time.

Blue, black, and green are the main colours that are used in the beginning of this section; followed by red when the spaceships start exploding parts of the city. Mise-en-scene was thought about, as these colours helped to set the atmosphere of the scene, with the green representing aliens, ad the red representing danger. The fact that this section was set in a city also makes it scarier for the audience, as people don’t expect cities and big buildings to be so vulnerable.

High angle shots are used to show the humans looking at the space ship. This shows how small they are compared to it, as well as their vulnerability. Close-ups are also used to show the characters emotions, whereas long shots show how big the city is, and how quickly it is being destroyed.

The editing pace in this section is fairly slow, unlike many other thriller movies. This allows the audience to see what is happening in detail. I think that this is effective, as it shows the power that the aliens have, and how the humans can’t stop them.

The lighting in this section is low-key, as the spaceship is covering the city. This symbolises that the humans don’t have a high chance of survival, and is effective, as it sets the tone for the scene.

There is a lot of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds in this section. Diegetic sounds include announcements being made to the public, helicopters, screaming, explosions, and sirens. There is also the non-diegetic sound of violins and singing over the top of the scene, which sets the tone and creates a more intense atmosphere.

The main theme in this movie is alien invasion, but the unique selling point that this movie has, is the type of characters and the storyline. This movie was unique at the time it was made, which made it a very successful sci-fi thriller.

Jodi Ferguson.

The Terminator analysis

Film Analysis – The Terminator (1984)

‘The Terminator’ is a sci-fi thriller movie, based on giant supercomputers that threaten to destroy the human race.

The target audience for this movie is older teens and young adults. This is shown by the violent themes in the movie, as well as the characters, which are mostly young adults. Having the characters as the same age as the target audience is effective, as they can relate to the movie, so they will enjoy it more. The age rating for this movie is a 15, which also helps to outline the target audience.

The structure of this movie is non-linear narrative, as the movie refers to the future. This is fairly unusual for thriller movies made in this time, but it works well as the audience know what will happen if the terminator robot succeeds at his mission of killing Sarah Connor, increasing the ‘thrill’ of the movie.

Codes and conventions of thriller movies that are shown in this movie include death, a chase, and again, a time limit, which in this movie is how long the terminator has to kill his victim, and how long Sarah Connor can run away for.

I am going to look at the section of this movie (where Sarah Connors friend is inside the house that the terminator has gone to) in further detail, to look at features that commonly occur in thriller movies.

Mise-en-scene has been considered, as the colours are very dull and dark, symbolising that something bad will happen. The fact that it is set in an ordinary house makes it more frightening for the audience, as it shows that it could happen to them.

The camera angles used include close-ups, which hide some of what is happening from the audience, making the scene scarier, as well as showing emotion. There are also some long shots showing the victim running away. The fact that the terminator still gets the victim shows how powerful he is. Low angle shots also emphasise this fact.

The editing pace is fairly fast in this section, flicking between the girl in the kitchen, and the man in the bedroom. This makes the atmosphere more intense, as the audience know that the terminator will soon find the girl.

The lighting in this section is fairly low-key, helping to set the tone for the scene. It also hints to the audience that something bad will happen, as the setting is dark and gloomy.

Diegetic sounds in this scene include music playing, making the girl more vulnerable as she is unaware of the terminator nearby, screaming, and also the sound of things breaking as the terminator fights, which adds to the ‘thrill’ of the scene.

Non-diegetic sound is also included, building up the suspense as the terminator attacks. This includes drumbeats, which makes the scene scarier for the audience as the atmosphere is built up.

This movie has many codes and conventions of thriller movies, which audiences expect. ‘The Terminator’ robot also adds a unique selling point, which makes this movie a success.

Jodi Ferguson.

Die Hard analysis

Film Analysis - Die Hard (1988)

‘Die Hard’ is an action crime thriller, based on a New York cop who flies to LA to discover that a group of terrorists are holding people hostage, including his wife.

The target audience for this movie is older teenagers to middle-aged adults, similar to other thriller movies. The reason for this target audience id firstly because of the movies age rating, which is an 18. The ages of the main characters in the movie also reflect the target audience. The main characters are adults, so the target audience can relate to them, making the movie seem more realistic. I think that the target audience is suited to the movie, as it contains a lot of strong language and violence that is unsuitable for younger audiences.

The structure of ‘Die Hard’ is a linear narrative, similar to most other thriller movies. This means that the audience are unaware of the outcome of the movie, as events occur in a chronological order, making the movie scarier and unpredictable.

This movie contains codes and conventions that are typical of the thriller genre. One of these is a sense of urgency, caused by a time limit that the hostages have to live. This sense of urgency adds to the ‘thrill’ of the movie. Violence and murder are other themes that are included.

I am going to study the scene where the main character, John McClane, puts a bomb down a lift shaft; this is to look at the way it uses codes and conventions of the thriller genre.

Firstly, I will look at Mise-en-scene. The main colours of this section are blues and greys, setting an unpleasant, dull mood, similar to ‘Speed’. The setting of this section is in a building on a high floor, which could suggest that he could be easily captured, as there is no easy escape; this increases the tension of the scene.

There are also several different camera angles that are used in this section. Close-ups are used to show emotion, specifically of the villain who is watching the building as the bomb explodes. Close-ups also show the audience what John McClane is doing with the bomb.

High-angle shots show how far down the bottom of the lift shaft is, making the scene more intense for the audience. Long shots are used to show the damage that the bomb has caused to the building.

The editing pace in this section is fast-paced, as all of the action is happening quickly. This increases the ‘thrill’ of the movie, as the audience are not sure what is going to happen next, and whether John McClanes plan will work.

The lighting in this scene is low-key, similar to many other thriller movies. This gives the scene a dull tone, and symbolises that something bad has or will happen.

Both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used in this section. Diegetic sounds include dialogue, as well as the sound of the bomb exploding, letting the audience know what is happening.

Non-diegetic music adds to the intensity of the scene, and lets the audience know that something important is about to happen.

Overall, this movie contains many codes and conventions that are typical of the thriller genre, as well as having a unique selling point, which is the type of characters, and the situation that John McClane is in, as one of the hostages is his wife.

Jodi Ferguson.