Know your Genre – Additional Group Research

Film Title: Genre (and or sub-genre) : Thriller

Group Members: Luca, Hashan, Matt and Francis

Popular films – list 5 popular titles from your chosen genre and write a 1-2 sentence synopsis for them. You do not need to have watched these films, though it may help your awareness of your genre to watch them over the next few weeks. Do not cut and paste synopsis; put the stories into your own words.

Film 1 –

Title SynopsisSe7en Two detectives take on a serial killer who kills people who have committed one

of the seven deadly sins.

Film 2 –

Title SynopsisPrisoners A child goes missing and the father is annoyed at how the case isn’t developing

and so he takes the matters into his own hands.

Film 3 –

Title SynopsisThe Silence of the Lambs

A young police woman meets and interviews an infamous cannibal who may have insights into a case.

Film 4 –

Title SynopsisMemento A man is tracking down the killer of his wife but he has a rare case of memory

loss making it incredible hard.

Film 5 –

Title SynopsisShutter Island Two detectives investigate the disappearance of a woman from an island

asylum. As they delve deeper they find out that everything isn't quite as it seems.

Settings

What are 6 settings that have appeared frequently in films from your chosen genre? List film title next to answer.

1. Suburbs featured in the film The Silence of the Lambs2. Asylums featured in the film Shutter Island3. Crime riddled cities featured in the film Se7en4. Small town featured in the film Prisoners 5. A room featured in the film Panic Room6. Isolate place featured in the film Cape Fear

Cinematography

Find 3 iconic shots from films of your chosen genre. Copy the images and paste them below. Identify titles under

Se7en Shutter Island The Silence of the Lambs

List the major differences and similarities between the images. At least 3 points per column.

Differences Similarities

The image from Se7en includes two characters whereas the other two images only have one character.

Both the Shutter Island image and The Silence of the Lambs image have the characters looking near the camera.

The image from Se7en and Shutter island is of a mid shot while the image from The Silence of the Lambs is of a close up.

Both the Se7en image and the Shutter island image are outside.

The image from Shutter Island is dark whereas the other two images are quite bright.

Both the Se7en image and The Silence of the Lambs image include props (Hat and mask).

Image analysis

What do you believe makes the images above so iconic (or have such a strong impact)?

I believe that the shot from Se7en is iconic due to it coming at the end of the film and you can see the emotion coming from the character of Brad Pitt as he has realised what has just happened. The image from Shutter Island also has a strong impact as the woman is telling the main character to be quiet or to not tell anyone which makes you think about what will happen during the course of the film. It is also a very scary shot which will have an impact on the audience. The final image is off Hannibal Lecter wearing a sinister mask. The reason this is an iconic shot is due to him being treated like an animal and you can also see how much the state police fear him in that they would put a mask over him so he can't inflict any more damage to the population.

Colour scheme

Are there any colours or shades that can be associated with your genre? List the colour, why we might associate this with your genre (what we see that is this colour) and any connotations connected to that colour.

Colour Where that colour appears in your genre

Connotations – what we associate with that colour.

Black Costumes such as a suit or an overcoat. Death, Evil, Mystery

Grey A grey house or prison Dramatic, Dull, Detached

Protagonists V Antagonists

Find an image of a notable protagonist and antagonist from your chosen genre.

Paste their image below.

Protagonists V Antagonists

(continued)

What are the key or common characteristics of the protagonists and antagonists from your genre?

Protagonist Antagonist

Accustomed to danger Cleverer than the protagonist

Aim to defeat evil Shady sense about themStronger than the antagonist Physical deformityOrdinary citizen pulled into danger Past traumatic experience

What are some other common character types from your chosen genre?

Anti Hero

Hardboiled Detective

Serial Killer

Props

What props appear significantly or commonly in your chosen genre?

Costume and Make-up

What types of costumes are prevalent in films from your genre? Describe them and find examples.

Description - The most common type of costume worn in the thriller genre would be a suit. Many detectives such as in the film 'Se7en' are wearing suits which make them look professional and smart. They

are usually of the colour black or brown. The antagonists also commonly wear suits or a plain shirt to show they are just as smart as the protagonists.

Costume option 1 Costume option 2 Costume option 3

How is make-up (or prosthetics) used significantly in your chosen genre? Describe its use and find any notable examples.

Make-up is used a lot in the thriller genre. For example, blood is used frequently which involves make-up. Scarring on a face such as a burn is done by make-up and a mask can be made through the use of prosthetics as well.

Lighting

How is lighting used commonly and in your chosen genre?

In the thriller genre, there are many examples of low key lighting due to thrillers obviously being dark and mysterious. A room, for instance, wouldn't be well lit as that would remove all the tension and suspense that was building up to that moment and so instead the character would use a flashlight as a light source.

What is the effect of these styles of lighting?

The low key lighting gives off a mysterious and sinister atmosphere as you don't know what is in that dark room or at the end of that dark alley for example

Find 2 examples of where lighting has been used significantly in your chosen genre. Briefly explain the type of lighting used and the effect that is created by the light scheme and shadow.

The low key lighting used here emphasises that there is a lack of security for the detective. The shadow of the detective also shows that he is all alone there. The flashlight is the main source of light which makes it more realistic for the audience therefore increasing tension.

The use of the side lighting here shows us that the character is maybe conflicted and confused. The fact that one half of his face is cast with a shadow and the other half is not emphasises that he is

stuck between two minds and isn't sure what to do next. It also creates a dark atmosphere surrounding the character.

Character action and movement

How would you expect your 3 main characters to act and behave? How would they carry themselves/ pose/ act towards one another. Why would they act in this way?

I would expect my two main characters which are the detectives to be presented as friendly and caring towards their peers and friends. However, towards the antagonist, I would expect them to be completely the opposite in that they hate this person and will do everything to try and stop him. The antagonist would try and play mind games and mess with the detectives heads and also behave shady and suspicious.

Symbolism

What symbolic objects/colours/concepts/gestures/costumes might appear in your film? Look to other films from your genre for inspiration. Find images of your own symbolic objects. What could these objects symbolise?

A symbolic object that might appear in my film could be the antagonist's weapon of choice such as a special knife that he uses to kill his victims with. It reflects his style of approach in that he is quite sinister and sneaky.

Examples of notable symbolic items

Scarface

Psycho - 1969