"The Usual Suspects" Analysis
Clip found here - http://moodle.centralsussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=36524
- analyse the thriller opening to explain how the elements of MISE EN SCENE, CAMERA WORK , EDITING and SOUND, and how they construct the visual style of a thriller
Mise en scene constructs the visual style of a thriller as there is fire, seen immediately after a cut away/bridge from a box of matches, surrounded by fuel. There is also the shots of the match box and fuel in the first opening shots that tell the audience what is about to happen isn't safe and if read between the lines can be known that something on a much larger scale is about to happen, causing curiosity and apprehension - enigma for the audience. This of course isn't good news, hinting that there is danger which is stereotypical in any thriller film, conveyed by fire.There is also in the following shots fuel lit in a line around a dead body - another key signal that all is not well and this gives evidence visually that this danger and death is the genre of a thriller as questions to who is dead, who killed the man, and what will happen next are raised. Another mise en scene feature that is very significant is that they are on a boat at midnight as it has extremely low key lighting (stated by the antagonist a minute or so later), which increases the construction of this opening as a thriller as it shows there is no help to be found in the (presumable) offshore which heightens the tension the audience will feel as well as the mystery created as to how they arrived on the boat and ended up in this significantly unsafe place. This is typical visual style of a thriller as there is a threat, an extravagant setting and is much more interesting whilst at night with the low lights, constructing the style of a thriller visually.
Camerawork constructs the visual style of a thriller as there is a shot-reverse-shot using high and low angles to tell the audience who the antagonist and victim are in relation to power and danger. The antagonist is seen from a low angle to show he is important and has control over the whole situation, yet his face is unseen to create mystery as it is the beginning of the film and the idea of the film is to piece together who he is. This makes him much more powerful as he isn't revealed at all as his dark clothes also cover him. This visually creates the style of a thriller as the killer is unseen and is an unknown threat to the audience to increase an active viewing to the film. The victim is seen on the floor, from a high angle to show he is weak and of course not as powerful as the antagonist. This also hints that he will die, if not now later at some point from the hands of the antagonist as he is in no way able to fight back, especially when mentioning he 'can't feel his legs', giving away he has been injured badly. The roles of the antagonist and victim conveyed by the camerawork construct the visual style of a thriller as roles are deliberately seen effectively this way.
Editing in this opening sequence tell us from the slow pieced/paced cuts that there is no chase sequence, making the audience slowly realize this is the end for the victim and where he will die. This creates drama in itself as the audience ready themselves for the victim to be shot, yet when commencing that part of the scene the camera pulls away as the shot is heard off screen, making the tension and suspense increase rapidly as the audience are unable to see who has been shot - raising questions such as has he been shot and if not what is going on. There is also exaggeration formed from a slow motion match on action shot of the antagonist dropping their cigarette on the line of fuel to really gain the audiences attention. This all constructs the visual style of a thriller as it creates more drama typical to the genre as the audience are left unable to see a crucial moment and also focus on another.
Sound is used as dialogue to make the antagonist seem more blunt and creepier as he speaks in short, precise sentences. Foley's are also used to create more precision and tense drama as each sound, such as the flames or lighting a cigarette, are made more exaggerated and 'real', to add depth to the viewing experience and make it more intense for what the audience can see. The same can be said with the synchronized soundtrack to the action that increases the audiences worry and 'edge of the seat' viewing as it aids the audience construct what they can visually see, making it typical to the thriller genre.
Editing in this opening sequence tell us from the slow pieced/paced cuts that there is no chase sequence, making the audience slowly realize this is the end for the victim and where he will die. This creates drama in itself as the audience ready themselves for the victim to be shot, yet when commencing that part of the scene the camera pulls away as the shot is heard off screen, making the tension and suspense increase rapidly as the audience are unable to see who has been shot - raising questions such as has he been shot and if not what is going on. There is also exaggeration formed from a slow motion match on action shot of the antagonist dropping their cigarette on the line of fuel to really gain the audiences attention. This all constructs the visual style of a thriller as it creates more drama typical to the genre as the audience are left unable to see a crucial moment and also focus on another.
Sound is used as dialogue to make the antagonist seem more blunt and creepier as he speaks in short, precise sentences. Foley's are also used to create more precision and tense drama as each sound, such as the flames or lighting a cigarette, are made more exaggerated and 'real', to add depth to the viewing experience and make it more intense for what the audience can see. The same can be said with the synchronized soundtrack to the action that increases the audiences worry and 'edge of the seat' viewing as it aids the audience construct what they can visually see, making it typical to the thriller genre.
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