Characters in Thrillers

Since their creation, thrillers have all had very similar characters. For research into our thrillers, my group looked into all the different character types found in nearly all thrillers and i created a mind map on what i found.

I also composed a list of characters from known thrillers that fit under some of the different categories.

Antagonist

Mr Turner from Disturbia.

Victim

Harriet Vanger from Girl with the dragon tattoo.



 Protagonist (anti-hero in this case)

Creasy from Man on fire.

 Helper

Dr Watson from Sherlock Holmes.

Damsel in distress 

Fox from Wanted.

by Bethany

Symbolism Within the Modern Thriller 'Panic Room'

Panic Room was created in 2002 and directed by David Fincher. It is the story of a mother and daughter who are trapped in their own panic room by three criminals. I am looking at the symbolism used in a screenshot from the film and how it highlights the films thriller genre.

This screenshot is taken from a scene where one of the criminals is trying to listen to the protaganists within the panic room. The lighting is low key and casts a harsh and imposing shadow on the wall. It shows the antagonist as powerful and evil as shadows connotes darkness. Also because the shadow is bigger than he is, the audience are made to believe he has a lot of evil within him.

The mirror behind him is cracked. Since mirrors reflect your image back at you the audience can see the shattered mirror as reflecting his inner feelings at this point in the film. His facial expression is angry and frustrated and his sanity is beginning to crack, just like the mirror.

The setting is very clean and refined, also the walls are white. Because the house belongs to the protaganists, it shows the audience what kind of people they are. The colour white symbolises purity and innocence which highlights the fact that they are the good people and that the audience should sympathise with them.

In this shot, the antagonist is wearing all black, including black gloves. The gloves highlight him as a criminal but because he is in black he is shown as the bad guy. Also the black costume contrasts against the white house and shows not only he does not belong in the house but that he is the monster the audience should be afriad of because he is a dark prescence in the house. Another point is that his hair is corn rowed, which is a stereotypical hairstyle for gang youths and thugs. Once again it highlights the fact that he is a criminal.

by Bethany

Symbolism and Theories

Symbolism:

Todorov's Theory:

Blumer and Katz' Uses and Gratifications Theory:

By Elli Smart

Sound Used in Thrillers

The sounds used in thrillers are extremely important, they create specific moods and atmoshperes, emphasise characters' emotions and highlight the film's genre. Thrillers need to build tension and suspense within the audience, so sound plays a crucial part in creating this tension filled atmosphere. The best way to divide sound is into its different categories, here, a sound tree can be used.

Most films, including thrillers, will contain all of these sounds however thrillers put a lot of emphasis into all other categories.

An example of this can be heard in the opening scene of 'The departed'.

http://youtu.be/f3FmhIIvm0Q

After listening to just the audio I noted these sounds...

• voice over: this is often the explaining of the storyline or down to earth advice.  They will often have phrases and sayings that will stay in the audience's mind. 
• Ambience: this was the background sound of crowds of people and children laughing.  This gives thrillers, with storylines that often unbelievable, to have a sense of reality.  Also the children laughing contrasts against the other sounds which gives the thriller a sense of strangeness and mystery.
• Sound effects: the sound effects were of people shouting and fighting.  This is a brutal and unexpected beginning.  This puts tension in the audience as they want to know what the fightings all about.
• Dialogue: the most important part in the dialogue is when the man says 'it will put hate in your heart'.  This leaves the audience wanting to know more about the narrative and what will put hate in their hearts.  It adds suspense and keeps the audience interested.
• Soundtrack: this is a slow paced, relaxed, jazz number. As reflects the main characters personality and shows the audience even in this chaos he is completely at home.  This gives us a strong sense of a darker side to the protagonist.

By Bethany

Symbolism in Tarantino's 'Kill Bill'

The screenshot above is from a fight scene in Kill Bill ~ written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

• As the colour yellow has connotations of cowardice and happiness the costume worn by the female Protagonist is therefore ironic, however the black stripe running down the costume could symbolise the splitting of these representations and that part of her is happy to kill these men and scared due to facing the many that surround her yet the other half is serious and brave to take them all on at once; this could also be supported by the shadow that is formed over half her face, suggesting her intentions are split.
• The stairs that are directly behind the protagonist could be a symbol for her rising above and succeeding in the battle.
• As the floor is reflective this could resemble how those standing will soon reflect those on the floor, dead, perhaps also being a subtle foreshadowing of the fight's outcome.
• The sword used by the female protagonist is very thin and appears delicate which could represent the stereotype of women being fragile.
• The red tinge in the wood filling the background of the shot connotes danger, passion and anger which could symbolise the emotions Tarantino wanted to portray in this scene.
• The black masks the antagonists are wearing removes their identity, and as they are black this suggests the antagonists are sinister and evil as well as connoting death.
• As the antagonists are all wearing suits this could symbolise that they are doing the job for someone else as their attire connotes business.

By Elli Smart

Inglorious Basterds ~ Tarantino

Tarantino uses camera shots, mise en scene and sound to create tension and suspense in the opening scenes of
Inglorious Basterds.

Script

• In the intro credits the soundtrack used has subtle tones of romance yet as the opening scene draws near the pace quickens and the volume of the soundtrack increases, this adds suspense as the audience is hinted that something is about to happen.
• The use of an extreme long shot, or establishing shot, to open the scene, positions the male protagonist in the background to appear vulnerable. Therefore the audience is instantly positioned to fear for his well-being due to the framing of the shot.
• However, the use of an axe, also identifiable by the Sound FX of metal clinking, implies that the protagonist is strong. Yet soon, in the narrative, he becomes helpless as the camera shot turns to a close up of the protagonist leaving the axe in the tree stump, emphasising the loss of his previous power, and creating tension due to his vulnerability.
• The over the shoulder shot of the protagonist allows the audience to see, in the background, the incoming threat. The framing here positions the antagonist in the distance, which could portray their relationship with the protagonist, influencing the audience to believe that they are dangerous, thus adding to the tension and suspense.
• When the antagonist first steps out of his car the use of a low angle shot gives him authority over the audience, positioning them to feel vulnerable and scared, also contributing to the overall tension.
• As well, the antagonist is dressed all in black leather, including his officer hat. As leather has connotations of power and violence, this coupled with the connotations of black with evil and death, the antagonist immediately appears sinister and daunting, and therefore creates tension as the antagonist’s presence foreshadows a horrific event.
•  The low key lighting used throughout the scene also adds tension as harsh shadows are formed across the antagonist’s face, suggesting that he is hiding dark intentions.
• The lighting also places the antagonist in shadows when at the table with the protagonist, who is sat within the only strip of light in the room. This not only emphasises the roles of the characters but also represents how the protagonist is surrounded by darkness, giving the impression of being isolated and confined; this creates tension as Tarantino is playing with the audience’s fear of being trapped, much like how Hitchcock does within his films.
• Later in the scene the shadows surrounding the protagonist eventually encase him also, adding to the suspense as this foreshadows the soon arrival of a sinister event.
• During the scene where the protagonist and antagonist are discussing the missing Jewish family, a grandfather clock is always within the frame, and often positioned in the centre. This suggests that time is of the essence and consistently poses the audience with the threat of time running out, which therefore builds tension within the scene.
• When the window is in shot it allows the audience to view the perfect weather outside. This contrasts with most thrillers which use thunder and rain to create a sinister atmosphere. However, the contrast of good weather creates uncertainty and confusion, consequently creating suspense.
• The close-ups of the window also add to the fear of imprisonment as this resembles how the audience is trapped in the house and can only see out; the use of good weather could also resemble how outside there is freedom and joy yet in the house there is evil and darkness, which creates tension and suspense.
• At the point in the narrative where the antagonist becomes suspicious of the protagonist hiding the Jewish family, the camera shots become quicker, building tension.
• The camera then steers away from the conversation by tilting below the floorboards to where the Jewish family is hiding. This creates dramatic irony as the audience now know that the Jews are there, yet the antagonist does not, which adds to the tension.
• The use of light bars along the Jew’s face gives the impression of them in a cell, suggesting that they are trapped, once again stimulating the audience’s fear of this.
• The close-up of the antagonist’s face also adds to the tension as the audience is invited to interpret his facial expression of rage, thus presenting the threat of him realising what the audience already knows about the Jewish family.
• The soundtrack introduced here gradually becomes quicker and louder, as additional operatic instruments are added such as trumpets, building the tension, until the ominous drum roll begins. Due to drum rolls having connotations of leading up to a momentous occasion, often that of an execution, further tension and suspense is formed as the audience awaits the event of death.
• A close-up of feet then entering the house also adds to the tension as the audience is restricted from viewing their faces; with the focus of the audience’s attention on the new arrival’s military boots, the characters are given a faceless embodiment of war, also creating anxiety in the audience’s minds.
• A bird’s eye view camera angle is used to position the audience as a voyeur looking down on the murder scene as the Nazi’s shoot at the Jews under the floorboards. This makes the audience feel uncomfortable as though they are spying yet unable to prevent the horrific event; which adds to the suspense, as the soundtrack is still building because the ultimate climax of the scene is not yet reached.
• The long-shot from the door, viewing the escape of the Jewish girl, positions the audience to still be trapped within the house, instigating further tension as they are not yet free.
• Finally, the scene ends with silence bar the cricket sound FX. This suggests isolation and abandonment as the audience are alone, allowing a release of tension yet the fear of being entrapped is still present with the audience.

By Elli Smart

Symbolism in 'Tinker, Tailor, Solder, Spy'

Directed by: Tomas Alfredson

This still has been taken in a Casino which implies that a game is being played throughout this film. In addition to this they are playing on a Card game table, which suggests that one of the characters is taking a gamble and testing their luck in the situation.

Both of the characters on the right of the screen are focussed on the man sat on the left which gives the impression that he is outnumbered and vulnerable. This paired with the scotch and ash tray in front of him suggests that he is nervous and tense as they are both often used to keep a person calm. In addition to this the characters poise is very stiff, while the other two men seem calm as they have their hands clasped together or are leaning comfortably against their chairs. This implies that he has been caught out while playing the game and perhaps that he had just lost.

The fact that the man wearing the glasses is at the dealer’s side of the table suggests that he has complete control over the game which is being played which places him in a position of power over the man in the black suit.

The black glove suggests that something sinister is in involved in this scene as it implies murder or a crime has been committed as they are often used the hide fingerprints during the attack. While the character has the glove off and resting on the table this also suggests that he has nothing to hide in his current situation, even if there are some skeletons in the closet.

While the man in the brown suit is off in the background, suggesting that he isn’t important in the tense scene in front it also makes him seem more menacing as he is watching over them and is almost like back up for the man in the glasses. 

By Rebecca Gatfield

Video Analysis of an Extract from Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho'

Created and Analysed by Elli Smart, Bethany Smith, Rebecca Gatfield and Nadine Parker.
Voiced by Elli Smart.

The Key Aspects of Film Noir

Film noir means "black film" in French and features more negative themes then positive, with an overall dark and shadowy outlook. They are often filmed in low-key black and white though many more modern films which are filmed in colour are also recognized as film noir. The film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.

Narrative and Plot:

·         Many Film Noirs have crime (often murder) and the investigation as a basic plot. Within this plot there is frequently greed and jealousy behind the criminal’s motivation. The crime is never simple.

·         Other common plots; implicated heists, murderous conspiracies often involving adulterous affairs, false suspicions and accusations of crime, betrayals and double-crosses.

·         Film noir can use elaborate story lines which often involve flashbacks and flashforwards, which can disrupt and sometimes obscure the narrative sequence.

·         Voiceover narration is often used, mostly done by the protagonist as it is often a narrative written from their point of view. But less frequently a secondary character may present a voiceover. It is sometimes used as a structuring device which can explain the complex storylines.

·         The protagonist is always led to the killer and generally, there aren’t many happy endings.

Characters:

·         Film noirs tend to revolve around a protagonist, who is emotionally wounded and morally questionable, often men who have fallen from grace with a bad past. The typical protagonists in this film style are generally isolated and bitter.

·         A character often identified in Film Noir is the Femme Fétale, a beautiful woman who is often merciless and more dangerous than the main antagonist.

·         Other characters that often appear in this film style are; Antiheroes, corrupt policemen, jealous husbands and washed-up writers.

·         Mostly, characters in Film Noir illustrate the worst in society and human behaviour.

Setting:

·         Film Noir opening sequences often begin with an establishing shot of an urban setting (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago in particular).

·         The city is presented in noir as a labyrinth, full of bars, lounges, nightclubs, and gambling dens which are often used for action scenes. The highpoints of a considerable number of film noirs take place in visually complex setting, creating a claustrophobic and disorientated mood.

·         Most often set during the evening but with bright, artificial lights from lampposts that create an eerie atmosphere due to the dramatic shadows which are formed.

·         Often, in Film Noir it is raining, which creates a dull and seedy effect.

Visual Style:

·         The shadows which are created by blinds or banister rods are often casted upon an actor, a wall, or an entire set. This is an iconic visual technique used in film noir.

·         A characters face may be partially or completely masked by darkness which suggests shady intentions and hidden agendas.

·         Low-angle shots and wide-angle lenses are common in Film Noir. Shots of people reflected in one or more mirrors, shots through curved or frosted glass or other distorting objects are also relatively common.

·         Often there are disorientating visual schemes, often filmed with a shaky camera.

·         There is often cigarette smoke and fog which an often act as a shield for the characters as it is often used to cover faces, hide people or a silhouette effect can be used to create an threatening atmosphere. 

By Rebecca Gatfield