Sub Genres

NON COMPOS MENTIS

We explored the sub genres of thriller films, namely action, supernatural, horror and psychological under the restraints of once minute. The codes and conventions of each sub genre are distinctly presented.

'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' Deconstruction and Analysis

Genre

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Representation

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were deeply in love, it was a love at first sight which Mr. Smith stated later that Mrs. Smith looks like “christmas morning”, the lighting when they first met is bright with dominant bright colour such as yellow, green and white. Yellow symbolizes their happiness, green symbolizes their growth in love and white symbolizes pureness and can suggest marriage, which they married after meeting each other for six weeks. Jane’s costume is a white dress showing her famine and cute side whilst Mr. Smith’s costume a white top and short shows that he is easy going, chilled and is very relaxed.

However, their blooming love does not last for long after five or six years of marriage. They became distant which is shown by the shot types such as over the shoulder shot, a two shot with back towards their spouse and editing such as shot reverse shot. There are not many two shots where they faced each other. Moreover, their distant relationship is also symbolized by the car scene where they took off at the same time and nearly crashed into each other, suggesting that they do not try to compromise and does not put their spouse’s needs before themselves, Mr. Smith’s car needs to stop for Mrs. Smith’s car showing that Mrs.Smith is in power and is a controlling person. Just like the dinner table scene when Mr. Smith asked for the salt and she said, “It’s in the middle of the table”. The dinner table also symbolizes their relationship, it is a long table and both of them sat either side. The conversation is shot with an over the shoulder shot reverse shot, which makes it feel very distant and uncomfortable, having to reach for food and in order to get the salt, Mr. Smith has to stand up and reach for it. The atmosphere created is uncomfortable, there were no dialogue, but silence and both of them are drinking and reading silently. Mr and Mrs Smith kept their true identity in secrecy, the scene where Mrs. Smith got a phone call and Mr. Smith looking at her through the window as a frame within shot, which symbolizes the secret that is kept between the two and the barrier they have not demolished. The costume also symbolizes their relationship, when they were happily in love the couple would wear the same colour, whilst when they were in a distant relationship they wear different colour, colour which does not even match. Suggesting that the couple does not feel like they belong to each other anymore.

The scene at the neighbor’s house for a party right after their work, taking their dark coloured coats off and revealing the pastle colour inside shows that they have a parallel life, of the assassins and a humane life with feelings. However, as an assassin, when Mrs. Smith held the baby, a potential life  she feels awkward because her job is to assassinate heartlessly.

When both Mr. and Mrs. Smith suspect their spouse of being the assassin in the competing firm, the dinner scene has the diegetic sound of knife clinking emphasized, suggesting violence. The tension in this scene is created by the point of view shot, which consists of Mr. and Mrs. Smith staring at each other intimidatingly.  Alongside with non-diegetic music creating tension, it starts with a slow beat then accelerates as the scene becomes more tensed.

At the end where they have a gunfight in the house, destroying the walls and the structure of the house, suggesting that they are breaking the walls of secrecy since it has been revealed they are bound to be closer together since the barriers were destroyed. Therefore in the scene where they pointed guns at each other they did not pull the trigger, realizing how much they love each other. The emotion is carried through the close up shot. The long shot with the gun being smacked down and the couple started kissing, which is the same shot used in the beginning, however using different lighting keys. Suggesting that although someone is flawed they can still be loved, love doesn’t always need to be perfection and happiness but something flawed and broken can also be loved.

Narrative

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Levi Strauss

Binary oppositions are set of opposite values, which reveal the structure of the media texts. An example would be GOOD and EVIL – we understand the concept of GOOD as being the opposite of EVIL. It is the establishing of these binary opposites that propels the narrative forward. The narrative can only end when this conflict is resolved.

Conventions of Thriller

The Narrative of Seven follows the criminal investigation of a series of murders. The killing follows the 'seven deadly sins'.

The Protagonist Brad Pitt's character detective Mills is a conventional hero. His love for his family and his tendency to be driven by his emotions (specifically his anger) allows him to be manipulated into completing the killer's plans.

Voyeur the pleasure in viewing others, usually during moments of intimacy.

Sub genres of Se7en

sub category of a certain classification

Action 
Action sequences includes stunt work, gunplay and dramatic chasing sequences. It usually includes fast editing and close ups. 

Horror
Horror dwells on the killing, it is detailed in its gore and mutilation and gives a gothic tone. It can be identifies clearer with what it NOT a horror, a natural threat which always expose the murderer after the act and an intrigue rather than repulsion.

Tragedy
Tradgedy consists of human failures which the ending is predetermined with human's loss. 

Serial Killer
(sub genre of thriller)
The serial killer is usually a private person, which is psychologically unstable, intelligent and precise the murder cases are as if they wanted to get caught playing games with the detectives. 

Crime Drama
Crime drama shows the police procedure which is an evidence based case to be solved. 

Narrative

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LEVI-STRAUSS

Binary oppositions are set of opposite values, which reveal the structure of the media texts. An example would be GOOD and EVIL – we understand the concept of GOOD as being the opposite of EVIL. It is the establishing of these binary opposites that propels the narrative forward. The narratice can only end when this conflict is resolved.

NOIR

Black vs White

Old vs Young

By the book vs Renegade 

Calm vs Hot tempered

CHARACTER'S characteristics


We analysed the character's characteristics with two sets of cards identifying detective Mills and detective Sommerset, we came to a conclusion that John Doe has the two detective's characteristics combined. 

THRILLER vs HORROR

Genre : Thriller

Thriller

Definition or Convention?

Thriller is defined as a suspenseful sensational film, the storyline will be designed so the audience will think that it can happen to them which will make them feel scared. The conventions of a thriller includes, low key lighting, quick cutes, shadows, tension music, changed in the angle of shots, diegetic sound of breathing, black and white shots, montage of shots, protagonist is in mercy of the antagonist. Tension is built throughout the film, the audience anticipates for excitement and mysteries. 

Difference from Horror?

Horror and thriller's aims and structure of the movies are different. The genre, horror film, has the attempt to make the viewer experience fright, fear, terror, disgust or horror. The plot often involves the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage, sometimes of supernatural origin, into the World. The most common elements in a horror film are forms of resurrected corpses and mystical creatures. Whilst thriller's aim is to make the audience fear that it can happen to them, this feeling is created by using fast pace, frequent action scenes, and plots in where a small number of resourceful heroes often fight violently. It emphasises more on the plot than character development, using suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers. 

What is expected?

To be seated at the edge of our seats, watching a cliff hanger as the plot leads towards a climax. When the main character is placed in a menacing situation. mystery, an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible, makes it seem as is it is life threatening.

Fears

Fear

Why do we watch scary films

Media plays with human fears, fears in another way attracts the audience because it gives the audience thrills and challenges the audience. Physical responses appeals to the audience to satisfy the need for emotional stimulus, the thrill and excitement created by the film. This is due to the adrenaline and noradrenaline release due fear, which satisfies the audience, since adrenaline combats stress.

Glenn D Walters : What makes a film scary?

Tensions

The tension created in the film which requires skills from the filmmaker. 

Relevance

Films are made scary due to the universal, societal, personal and subgroup relevance, when audience can relate to the film, they will tend to feel scared since it convinces the audience that the storyline can happen in real life. 

Unrealism

We know that it isn't real, therefore we watch the film to relieve our negative emotions.  Aristotle believed in CATHARSIS ( release of repressed emotions), we are attracted to violence and what scares us. In order to purge negative emotions.

Excitation Transfer Theory

Zolf Zillman

Negative feelings gained from watching scary imagery INTENSIFY the positive feelings gained when goos triumphs.