Assignment 2: Genre Analysis

“Panic Room”Colour = GREEN

By Chelsea Hopkins, 12S

Panic Room (2002)• www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP8jyFEDdNw&safe=active

Identify the basic genre of the film and similar films

• The genre is THRILLER

• Other films in this genre include: Saw (2004) Shutter island (2010) The exorcist (1973) Taken (2008)

The purpose of the Thriller genre

• The purpose of the thriller genre is to create suspense, tension and excitement throughout. It provides a rush of excitement and exhilaration in order to keep the viewer on edge using different paces.

Audience

• The main type of audience for Thriller films is 18+

• This is because many scenes are disturbing for younger views and include a lot of violence throughout.

Conventions from this genreThriller Conventions Examples From Films

The house is usually somewhat empty, minimum furniture and less people than the attackers

There are still unopened boxes e.g. labelled kitchen

The villain/s loses control at some point Police arrive at the door

There is always a point where the victim is almost caught

The victim and her daughter are shown in lift with villain looking in

There is a point where the victim tries to regain control

The victim is shown holding a gun at someone

Genre ConventionsThriller Conventions Evidence Explanation

horror One of the villains is shown shaking his head at a cctv camera that he knows she is watching, whilst holding a phone symbol to his ear, making it appear quite sinister

Drama The victim is shown standing by cctv cameras but looking away (seeing if she is alone) and a list of medical equipment is shown during the trailer

Action Tools are laid out on the table, showing that there is going to be a scene related to demolishing something

Sub-genres in the film

• The sub-genre is Thriller/Drama• Other films in this genre are:• Black swan• Argo• Dark knight rises• Fight club

Denotation & Connotation

The denotation is showing that the man is showing the camera and phone symbol held at his ear

The connotation is showing the man making a threat to the woman watching the cctv monitor, warning her that calling the police is a bad decision and showing her that he is not afraid of hurting her

The denotation here is showing a phone on the receiver

The connotation here is showing that something rather sinister will take place, in which circumstance the phone will be needed to make a call

How are people, place and objects represented in the trailer

The low angle of this shot shows the men are more powerful as they appear to be intimidating The labelled boxes show that the

house in recent ownership, which is unexpected for the burglars

The idea of the camera coming from behind tells the audience that the character does not know what is coming at him

Explain the stereotypes in the trailer

This shows that men have control and are the dominant figure

This shows that women take on the protective role in terms of caring for a child during an intense, frightening event

Are the stereotypes challenged or reinforced

Stereotype Re-inforced Challenged

Empty houses are targeted Common robberies tend to occur in empty houses, as the family have just moved in we can understand that the burglars did not expect anyone to be at the house

Men with more muscle tend to be burglars

This is challenged as not all of the men are larger in size, however the smaller ones have more facial hair, showing them as rugged which could be intimidating to the audience

Context of the trailer

• In the 21st century, crime rates in society are soaring which is the theme throughout the film

• The film is a thriller typically made for an audience of over 18