Thriller Film Opening Analysis

Enemy of the State Opening Scene.

The opening scene to the film 'Enemy of the State' is a typical conspiracy/political thriller.

The opening includes the different forms and conventions that makes it a typical thriller. 

The iconography of the murder weapon used in this opening scene is unusual for some thrillers because it  is a needle rather than a gun or a knife. However, the suits are typical thriller iconography because it shows power and authority which belongs in a political thriller. 

The characters are typically male between the age of 30-40 which is typical for thrillers to feature more mature men. They come across in typical thriller fashion as cold, heartless, ruthless and very professional as they kill the victim, set up the murder to look like suicide and callously disposing of the body, showing no emotion. Thriller characters like these are always calm and heartless as they go about their business in a cool, controlled manner. The ‘innocent victim’ (stereotypical thriller character) is a man who we would sympathize with because he has a dog and just wants to get on with his day like any one of the audience would like to do if put in that situation. He is a politician who has ‘principles’ and resists corruption – hence we know that he is in danger, because in thrillers the ‘good guys’ are always at risk

The narrative is also typical of a conspiracy/political thriller as it involves corrupt government officials who plan on getting what they want. Their plans go wrong, however, they don't get what they want and so they have to get rid of the main person who stands in their way. The setting of the opening has been placed in a lake, it is a fairly isolated area where not many people go which makes the character vulnerable. Dramatic irony is used as part of the build up of suspense because we realise that the character is being set up to be murdered before he does.

The typical thriller themes of corruption, greed and a conspiracy to cover up a crime are also introduced in this opening sequence.

As regards the audio-visual style, the music is low and ominous all the way through and is used to build up the tension so the audience knows something bad is going to happen. The colours used are also rather ‘dull’, restricted to cold blues and greys, giving the serious feel that thrillers need.

Analysis of 'The Crazies' Poster

The background is dark except for a few lights this indicates a lot of low-key lighting in the film. The background also includes what looks to be a hospital which gives us the hint of the setting; this also gives us the hint that a character has something to do with the hospital which is normal for thrillers to be the innocent victim.

The iconography of this film is different to most thrillers because normally they are guns this time it is a pitch fork which is used to pick up/throw loose material. But in this case it is dripping with blood which indicates it as the murder weapon.

Neighbours are normally the characters that get pulled into the mess so by saying ‘Fear Thy Neighbour’ is giving you the hint that maybe this time the neighbours are part of the problem. This is unusual for thrillers. ‘The Crazies’ is written in red because the colour red can suggest danger or blood.

Analysis of 'Underworld' poster

There is a lot of low-key emphasis the lighting which could suggest that the film will be mostly in dark settings, this will represent the audio-visual style through the film. The rain in this poster gives the impression that it is dull and dreary. All of these elements are typical of the thriller genre. 

The moon in the background could be hinting that the narrative could be related to the moon; something supernatural. The guns are an obvious part of the iconography to make it a thriller because it shows power and it gives us straight away that there will be violence. 

The background as well gives us the idea that it is a typical thriller because of the urban city and the run down area. 

This character is unusual for thrillers because normally women are the innocent victims. But this woman is just as serious as any other person would be in a thriller, and she shows that she is fierce by being all dressed in black. The low-angle makes her look more dramatic in a typical thriller fashion.

 

The theme of this film may include something dark/evil because of the colours used in the poster.