Conventions of crime films

Daniel Wright 12CC-2

Connotations of a film opening

• Music/theme tune• Credits/titles• Cast list• Visuals/setting• Production logos• Distribution• Enigma• Establish Genre

• Camera shots and editing- establishing shots, over the shoulder shots, shot reverse shots, match on action, low angle shots, two shots, weather shots, 180 degree rule, jump cuts, graphic match, focus pull

• Mise en scene- detective-type clothing, such as a trench coat, police badges, yellow tape, dead body, police cars, sirens, rain, bad weather, weapons such as guns or knives

• Dark colours are often used in crime films to anchor the dark nature of crimes, emphasising how bad crimes are.

• It is often raining in crime films, which makes the nature of the investigation all the more morbid and adds a sense of emotion to the film. Pathetic fallacy is also used to play upon the audiences emotions in order to make the audience engage more with the film. This will likely be anchored with close up shots to emphasise this.

• The detective often has either a comical personality or a serious personality, depending on the narrative and theme of the film. They are generally represented as quite dominant within an investigation and take the role of a leader.