Initial Brain Storming for "Aaron"

Thriller Scenes: How is editing used to drive the narrative in the scene?

Insomnia

In the opening sequence of the 2002 film Insomnia, there are a variety of shots which hint at the context of the film. For instance the title of the film is shown over a piece of carpet which has blood spreading through the fibres, as can be seen to the right. This extreme close up is an interesting one as we are only seeing the very micro side of a situation. It is a white carpet too, which signifies a few different things. White carpets usually feature in the homes of the affluent, due to their impractical nature in everyday life. Also, the whiteness of the carpet contrasts well with the blood. The total pure white of the carpet reflects both a goodness as well as an innocence.

The way that the word Insomnia has been put on top of the blood spill signifies that this is probably going to be a key feature of the movie.
There are then sweeping establishing shots icebergs, more images of the blood spilling out onto the carpet and then there are drops of red falling onto what looks like a pristine white shirt. Again, the white signifies good things and a purity, which is why it is so shocking to see blood red on it. This is effective iconography as it instantaneously implies murder due to the contrast between the two colours. Then we see someone trying to rub blood out of the linen, with an extreme close up of a masculine hand. The use of so many extreme close ups mixed with the very macro image of icebergs is rather disorientating to the viewer because in a sense we have very little idea what is going on, because we are only seeing two clues to the whole situation, which do not have any direct link at all.
This relates back to the title of Insomnia, which is most likely a rather disorientating problem for it's sufferers.
The next scene is again ambiguous. It appears as more of a midshot through the reflection of a cabinet, of the back of someone. Most of this is obscured. This can be seen in the image to the left. This is more of a clue but it is again not very helpful. Using the image of someone rubbing away the blood we can gather that this character probably is not the protagonist of the film, and we are not seeing him for that reason, possibly so that we have a similar knowledge to that of the protagonist as to what is actually going on.
Next comes some disorientating editing. From the sight of the gloved hands we see a close up of someones face, then the macro again of a plane. We see several different shots of the face, and he is looking at images of what seems to be crime scene photography in a folder. This manages to imply that he is the antagonist, yet the fact he is blatantly holding a police evidence file suggests otherwise.
The camera then cuts to the establishing shot of a plane flying across the icebergs. This indicates both loneliness and danger. Loneliness in the sense of the abandonment felt in Arctic environments, as well as the danger that is expected when one sees icebergs and frozen environments. These are tough environments to live in, and the shots of the weary looking man suggest that he is going to have a difficult time managing.
There is then a shot from even further away, and fewer micro shots. This is setting up the scene and encouraging us to feel the desolation of the area. Similarly to the scene in the Shining whereby the car drives into an increasingly dangerous looking environment whilst being totally alone, the small, solitary plane heading to some unknown destination manages to make us worry for the fate of the weary man and his accomplice on the plane.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Produced by: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 30 August 2002 (UK)
Filmed in: Alaska, USA
Box Office Returns: $113,714,830 (worldwide grossing)
Rated 15
Given a 7.2/10 on IMDB.
Viewers called it "masterful", "excellent" and "intense"
Clip from Insomnia

Se7en

The film Se7en has an interesting opening sequence, with a lot of props, icons and clues towards the actual context of the movie. It has many extreme close ups, which manage to create the effect of an indepth, close study of something, which, when we look at the props in the scene such as images of hands and the opening image, which is of a book having it's pages dropped down slowly. This extreme close up of what appears to be a handcrafted book is appealing to the viewers eye. The pages are blank, which signify the beginning of something. He is clearly awarding the whole book to the event which shows that it is probably something special and worthy of note.



The music is timed perfectly with the images shown on the screen, with loud, bass noises coming in as the black opening credits scene appears. There are high pitched noises that emphasise the writing used on the credit screens - the official parts are in a typewriter like font, yet the actual names are written in young looking hand writing. This almost suggests a personal attachment to the names themselves, which gives us the idea that the antagonist is going to commit the crimes against people who he has identified as specifically deserving it. The slightly blurred nature of the words either side of the names signifies them being done by hand, for instance through a stamp or aged typewriter. This also instills a sense of it being personal and also carefully crafted.
Next we see the man holding a blade between aged fingers, and even slicing the skin on the pads of them away. This signifies how anonymous the killer is and how he goes to extreme measures to hide his identity. His ease with such a dangerous thing as a razor blade also shows that he is not a novice, but more experienced in this field and that he has skill. This gives off the impression of him being almost assassin like. His hands are dirty too, which although is most likely from his study, it signifies him doing "dirty work"such as murder or other illegal deeds.
Unlike in Dexter, whereby the murderer is shown in a positive light with bright, overly contrasted images and upbeat music, the mise en scene here is much different. The room he is in is dimly lit and the images are not just dangerous, such as knives, but deadly - guns and blades being an example. The music is also very ominous - drawn out and containing some high pitched, static noises which sound like the antagonist is tuning into something - for instance a police radio.
Soon the opening credits stop having a whole shot of their own but actually blend in with the images shown in the montage - for insance here. This signifies the characters being drawn into the life of the killer.
For instance, the leading lady's name is here, which suggests that she will be in danger in the future, danger caused by the antagonist. The way that her name has been put in the shadow of the book implies that she will become a part of his study.

Directed by: David Fincher
Produced by: Cecchi Gori Pictures, New Line Cinema
Release Date: 5th January 1996
Filmed in: Los Angeles, USA
Box Office Returns: $316,400,000 (Worldwide)
Rated 18
Given 8.7/10 on IMDB
Viewers called it "shocking", "suspenseful", "disturbing" and "clever".
View the scene here

AS Media Project 'Monster Chase'

Thriller Movie Titles

American Psycho

This title is pretty self explanatory and as a result it mainly gives away the plot. The main character of this film is a "psycho" and evidently an "American" as well. This title works well because the normal connotations when someone refers to being American is freedom, and is generally a rather wholesome image. However, the addition of psycho shows a different side of this. This implies that there is a darker side to this American, and due to this side being psychotic, it is not a familiar one.
The title is interesting because it is partially obscured, which yet again shows a darker side to something. It is also white, which relates to Nickel's theory on black and white hats. It does this through half of the title being stark white, and the other half being totally black.This shows the image which people want to see, a good, well-meaning person, as well as the one he refuses to let people see, which has been obscured to the point of not being visible at all. However, the fact there is a grey area shows that there is a blurred area, where he exposes himself to a few people. There is a great contrast between the white area and this grey area.

The writing is in Times New Roman which is quite a classic font, which suggests that to the unknowing eye, he looks rather classy, but nothing different to usual.

Fight Club

This title is different to the other one because the way that it is has been portrayed is much less obvious and initially, as a viewer, we wonder why it is that the words have been carved out of soap, and to add to that, pink soap.
One lead character in the film is a soap manufacturer and he also creates the fight club, which makes this make a little more sense. The letters are bold, capitalised and sans-serif which makes them look very neat and also reminiscent of an action movie. The way in which the "U" and "B" are connected is quite unusual as this is not something which the rest of the font follows. This shows a nonconformity and a breaking of the rules - most other letters are apart. Also, the letters joined together look a little confusing and also look almost unrecognisable as what they are meant to be. This is a theme strongly explored in the film.
The title of Fight Club is not an ambiguous one, and it sounds like what it is. The fight club in the movie is literally an underground club where men come to fight one another. The use of club makes them sound unified somehow, and almost as though the fighting has a purpose, much like a knitting club or a book club.

Thriller movie plot ideas

1) Essentially a cult. The opening scene would be a little reminiscent of Se7en but obviously not following the same pattern of plotting a murder. For instance there could be shots of scriptures, idols, costume,  drawings, photographs. This would call for a variety of different shots, many props and eerie music. The main idea would be of people being affected or recruited by the cult - for instance a sacrifice or new recruit would have many photos of them in the sequence.
2)  Based extremely loosely about a nerve wracking situation I myself have been in. There would be a family coming to collect an exchange student from the airport in the beginning. In the morning they would go out early - the host child would have a knife on her. When the exchange student asks what it is for, she laughs. Then they drive for a while, then come to an abandoned garage where they take out barbecue equipment and knives. There would then be a long drive into the countryside, into an isolated place, where there would be lots of derelict stables etc. There would be a lot of tension in this short scene.

Thriller Scenes - How is sound used to create suspense and other effects in the scene?

American Psycho

The scene which I am analysing is colloquially known as the "Business Card Scene" due to it's content, but we can tell from actually watching the scene that it is much more sinister from the music which is being played beneath. The scene begins more calm with business men making small talk and the main character, the "American Psycho"(as we gather from the film poster), narrating the scene on top of this.

Yet, as soon as the business card is passed from one character, Paul Allen, to another, Bryce, there is a tension cast over the scene which is thanks to the introduction of non-diegetic sound. As Allen opens his business card case and hands the card over, there is a soundtrack added which makes the viewer believe that there is something dangerous going to happen as a consequence, due to the ominous tone of it. It is very suspenseful and encourages the viewer to believe that something is about to happen.

There are a lot of diegetic sounds which are brought in too, and this is very interesting. Despite the sounds only being of men opening their business card cases, the metallic effect sounds like the loading of a handgun. 

As the card is passed between hands, there is a noise like an exhaling, which could be construed as Bateman (the lead) trying to control his breath. He is blatantly not happy about this high profile character giving his business card to another person, but not himself. 

There is then only sound from the characters continuing in small talk, until Bateman pulls out his business card case. This is clearly an important move, emphasised by the music which has been played over the image of him withdrawing it from within his jacket. He does so as the other characters discuss Allen. The noise almost points towards something happening to him, including the diegetic sound of the case opening sharply. This sounds like a blade being drawn, sharpened, or even a switchblade being opened. This immediately triggers an awareness of danger, considering what we already know about this character. When the case moves out of sight the sound stops, and there is silence until he pushes the card towards the other characters. The noise builds up again and then calms when the card is in the position that he wants. They discuss the card briefly, and it is evident how proud he is of it from the way in which he speaks. His voice is low, high class and this suggests to us just how much of an enigma he is. He appears to be a suave businessman but the tone throughout the scene suggests otherwise - each time the breathy sound passes over we can feel a sense of danger. This is known as Verfremdungseffekt, coined by Victor Shklovsky. This term is used to distance us from the character in the sense that if we are following their story, they are the protagonist and hence the "good guy". This is not so true though, because we already know that Bateman is a murderer. This distances the audience because we have to step back and actually question what is wrong and right. He is evidently a serial killer but he is also shown to us as the one which we ought to show support for. This is strong evidence for the verfremdungseffekt.

The way in which Bateman utters "Nice" is low, monotone and is said in a gravelly, whispered voice which is a far cry from the way which he was just talking so proudly about his own card. This has connotations of testosterone, or the character having a masculinity about him. This is a secondary side to him. The opening scene shows his daily morning routine including face masks and picking out the perfect designer suit for the day. This is more effeminate. 

This is evidence of Bateman having a different side to him and this one is more dangerous. It is supported by the ominous music cast over the scene and the metallic diegetic sound effects. There is then a much longer sound as Bryce complements the other card, and Bateman is clearly showing signs of stress at this, shown in the image above. The way that he talks sounds provocatively threatening as he claims to be in disbelief over Bryce's preference. His facial expressions are well supported by the music and his monotone voice. Despite his claim to be feeling such an emotion, his voice reveals very little. This is something which is shown within the thriller series "Dexter". The cinematic sociopath is shown to fake emotion which is almost what Bateman does here. This could potentially be something which the creators of Dexter chose to include in terms of intertextual referencing. 

When he asks to see Paul Allen's card, Bateman clasps his hands together and then points them towards the other men in a manner reminiscent of aiming a gun. We can take this as being significant because of his evident emotions towards the man in question - he is asking to see the card so that he can size up the competition. His fingers being pointed like this also reveals a little of his true nature to his peers.

Directed by: Mary Harron

Produced by: Lionsgate Films

Release Date: 21 April 2000 (UK)

Box Office Gross Returns: $34,266,564 (Worldwide)

Rated 18

Given a 7.6/10 on IMDB

Left viewers confused with it's "ambiguous ending", but they enjoyed the "satire" and "black comedy"

Scene from American Psycho

Dexter

This TV show has another example of the verfremdungseffekt. The main character is a blood splatter analyst for the Miami Metro Homicide Division. He moonlights as a serial killer, taking care of the cases which managed to slip through the system and get away regardless of their misdoings. 

In this particular scene, Dexter is being talked to by Sergeant Doakes, who sees through Dexter's everyday facade. He is being threatened and up until the point shown in the image to the right, he is being lighthearted in response. This is up until Doakes begins to make accusations against him. The music then begins to turn a little more sinister and there is a noise similar to a rattlesnakes tail going. This foretells the danger that Doakes has put himself in, as well as the switch in Dexter's personality. You can see this in his face as well, and the sound only emphasises this. The loud, diegetic sound of him sighing is also evidence for this shift. This creates a lot of suspense because his friendly, carefree demeanor has been replaced for one which is distancing to even dedicated viewers.

The music continues, and it is ominous and just generally sounds dangerous. Previously to this, there was subtle music similar to the way the sound in American Psycho tailed off each time, only continuing the whole way through. 

The music continues to get more and more tense, with Dexter's voice low, controlled and almost teasing to the sergeant. He then headbutts the man, sends him flying backwards. This is interesting because he then leaves and goes into the main office. 

The music is tense and provocative as he walks out of the room, and gets increasingly tense until Doakes bursts out of the room. The music sounds like a chase scene, yet Dexter walks with composure, with his hands in his pockets. This is clearly a skill which he has cultivated over time, being a sociopath. This is something which Bateman, in the previously analysed scene, is also good at.

Screenplay by: James Manos Jr

Produced by: Showtime Networks

Released: 2006-Present

Rated 15/18 

Given 9.1/10 on IMDB

Viewers said it was "eclectic""breathless" and a "bloody masterpiece"

Scene from Dexter

(REVISED) Thriller Scenes - How does location and the use of light and dark depict the emotional landscape of a character?

Body Of Lies

This opening is rather suspenseful, beginning with a rather haunting quote from W.H Auden, which essentially says that everyone knows that if someone has evil committed against them. This fits well with the question which I am answering in regards to this piece - It works because in a lot of the scene, the characters are mostly obscured by darkness with a little light coming through, but usually behind them. Of course darkness being prevalent in the scene suggests that there is an overwhelming sense of an internal darkness throughout. As the antagonist talks, his entire face is blanketed in darkness, which essentially what he is now facing. The only light in the room comes from behind him, and although it is very light it is evidently not enough to pull him away from his ill deeds.

 His hat is white, which contradicts Nickel's white hat/black hat theory, because we know from his talking of destruction and vengeance that he is an antagonist and is therefore a threat. His hat being white is disconcerting but the light behind him is actually causing part of it to appear dark, thanks to the shadow being cast over it.

His hat being white shows that he believes that he is doing a good deed in his terrorist acts, although the audience is set against him from the moment he talks of destroying a bus.

The entire group of people within the house are dark, and they are all encompassed by it. The man lying down on his bed is rather haunting and we can learn a lot from it. For instance, he is totally surrounded by almost pitch black, yet we learn later that he is actually in an open room. He is not like the others in the room, who are preaching, working, or standing. He seems far from the atypical terrorist type, resting and clutching a book. The book signifies knowledge and being exposed to new things and turning away from ignorance. It is implied that he has been reading it due to it being open on his stomach, but the scene which has already been set shows that this has been changed. 

He has turned away from the lighter side of the scene and is instead facing into the darkness - this signifies what he is now facing mentally and how his mindset has changed. He could easily turn towards the light but due to his different way of thinking, he is being drawn towards the dark side of life and essentially, the darker side of religion. We do not know what the book is but it signifies an intelligence. However, he has turned it away from him and it is facing downwards, which suggests that he has closed himself off to this more open way of thinking and instead has become less tolerant, for instance. He has chosen to ignore the light side of life.

The book is shown in the light half of the image but is not shown at all in the darker half, which indicates that there is no room for rational thinking in the new life which he has chosen for himself.

Another man, the one who is sitting down and working, as well as listening out for the police entering is surrounded by what looks like clutter and general mess. This suggests to us the complicated and chaotic mindset of them; the house does not look clean in general, and this firstly suggests that they have a lot going on in their minds and hence cleanliness and order comes second - order being important, as terrorist acts can disrupt social order hugely. The chaotic nature of the house in which they are sat, sleeping and preaching shows also how messy their ideas are to some, notably the director, and how they are misunderstood to outsiders. This reflects the idea of them knowing how messy it is, but knowing where to find everything they need. This is often an opinion held on religion.
This man is very dimly lit and it seems that there is next to light on him. His entire front is shrouded in dark and there is probably only light on the back of his shoulders. This could be taken to indicate that he has turned his back on good and is facing the darkness head on. This suggests that he has made the choice much easier than for example, the man on the bed.

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Produced by: Warner Bros
Released: 21 November 2008 (UK)
Box Office Gross Returns: $39,380,442 (USA)
Rated 15
Given a 7.1/10 on IMDB
Viewers said that it was "technically well made", "engaging" and "intelligent"

View the scene here

Se7en

This scene, of Detective Somerset in the library shows him as someone who is a lot wiser than the detective that he is juxtaposed with throughout, Detective Mills. Somerset is in a large, empty library and walks deep into the shelves, and it symbolises him immersing himself in knowledge. The lighting is dim, but not in the same way as in Body of Lies; it is soft, warm, and makes the entire scene look decadent. 

This makes it seem as though he is indulging himself by being there, surrounded by thick books, which we are shown in the micro as he looks at certain titles in more detail.

In contrast, Mills is in what appears to be his home, with the crime scene pictures in front of him. The room is well lit, unlike the library, but not in a pleasant way. It makes Mills look stressed and almost pressured. The different locations are symbolic in the sense that it shows a lot of difference between them and how they operate as detectives.

Although Somerset is taking things more slowly, he is evidently more wise through his use of books, delving a little deeper in order to make sense of the mess in front of him. He looks at books that do not seem directly relevant, such as Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and a book named Divine Comedy. This effectively indicates a deeper understanding of the case, and it also proves to the audience how experienced of a detective he is. He is taking the entire situation and dealing with it in a calm manner, which is emphasised by the lighting used throughout. Although the library is mostly dark, Somerset constantly has lights above and around his head, perhaps to indicate the clarity and pure goodness he upholds. 

The lights are around him in such a way that is is suggested he is protected from the darker side of crime through his knowledge and wisdom. In contrast, there is a sole lamp lighting up the scene with Mills, which almost suggests that he has to work harder to stay on the positive side of the situation. 

As Mills ponders the images in front of him, his face is lit dimly. Although this is not necessarily suggesting that he is a bad character, it is suggesting how "in the dark" he is about the whole situation, being a younger, less experienced detective. Their differing research methods really highlights this; Mills is looking at the surface of the case and is frustrated when he fails to see what he wants to. He is at his own house, and this choice of location actually instills the idea that he almost wants things to be easy for him - Somerset has gone out of his way to look further into the information.

This shot in particular shows the difficulty Mills has as he researches information, the entire left side of his face being obscured. His eyes aren't incredibly visible either. Unlike Body of Lies, this does not show him turning bad and leaving the light, but it does show how he is not in as good of a position as Somerset, whose face is always visible, no matter which position his head is in.

We are shown the different successes the men have; Mills continues to look at the pictures, but Somerset finds words in a book which more or less replicate the victim which they are both looking into. 

Overall, the locations of the two characters show how they try to handle a difficult problem, and light manages to show us which is preferable through the hue of the light, as well as the clever positioning of lamps in both scenes. 

Directed by: David Fincher

Produced by: Cecchi Gori Pictures,
New Line Cinema

Released: 5th January 1996 (UK)

Box Office Returns: $316,400,000 (Worldwide)

Rated 18

Given 8.7/10

Viewers called it "crafted and ingeniously clever", as well as "dark" and "disturbing", and a "grisly" film that will "stay with you forever"
View the scene here