By Natasha Harding, Amanda Newton,Charly KingAnd Rebecca Newton

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FILM

ANALYSIS

FLIGHTPLAN DIRECTOR: ROBERT SCHWENTKEYEAR: 2005 CERTIFICATE: 15

Genre Characterisation

Titles Mood and Tone

CameraShot/Angle

Close ups shows expressions.

Jodie Foster positioned to the right but is still main focus of shot.

Names are reflected on the side of the train.

Camera close ups show facial expressions which is important to reflect the mood.

Lighting Train station has bright, artificial lighting, night time?

Husband is always in the dark , could be because of his death.

Each time the train passes, title appears. Disappears when train has past.

The lighting is artificial cause Foster is living a lie.

Music/Sound Squeaking of the train, diagetic sound. Tiny amount of non-diegetic music, violin/piano.

When Foster is talking to the funeral people her tone is hushed.

Diagetic sound of the train coming and leaving with the titles.

Violin and piano – creepy and symbolises the genre.

Location/Setting

Train station symbolises normality viewer can relate, typical location for this film genre.

Train is empty symbolises Foster’s loneliness.

‘Alexanderplatz’ station name sets scene, in Berlin.

Yellow train could symbolise danger. Location of mortuary sets sad mood.

Other Fairly simplistic. Crows = typical thriller convention.

Foster’s clothing is similar to that of an air hostess.

White font – stands out on the dark background. Font style is similar to that found on a train timetable.

Mood of the train station is happy contrasts to mood in the mortuary for obvious reasons.

MYSTIC RIVERDIRECTOR: CLINT EASTWOOD

YEAR: 2003 CERTIFICATE: 15

Genre Characterisation

Titles Mood and Tone

CameraShot/Angle

Camera always has actors faces in important for genre.

Usually medium close ups of three main characters shows their feelings and they are main characters.

Titles are center third of the screen.

When they are in trouble the camera is close up on the boys faces to show expressions.

Lighting Bright happy lighting gives sense of false security, Dave is shown in darker lighting.

Dave is in same kind of lighting as Sean and Jimmy to begin with could mean they are all in danger.

White font on a black background makes it stand out, is easy to read.

Car is dark inside, Dave appears as a silhouette from outside, viewer sympathises with him.

Music/Sound The piano creates a contrasting tone to the genre.

Hear a non-diagetic radio, Character’s voices. Diegetic sound of hockey sticks scrapping-boys hobbies.

First title appears at the same time as the first note of music.

Piano (non-diegetic) creates feeling of calm which leads to unease.

Location/Setting

Establishing shot of houses in foreground and Tobin Bridge (Boston) in background.

Boys have American accents underlines their dialect.

No titles on any of the location/character shots.

Because Sean and Jimmy live close so they weren’t taken, location is important.

Other Men who take Dave have dark clothing and black car shows evilness and genre.

Dave is wearing a red hat which is the color for danger.

No crew/cast names only the production companies and the film name.

The music increases feeling of tension as does the fade to black.

MEMENTO DIRECTOR: CHRISTOPHER NOLANYEAR: 2000 CERTIFICATE: 15

Genre Characterisation Titles Mood and Tone

CameraShot/Angle

Wide shot of the room. Close up shots of his hand in the beginning – mysterious.

Shooting someone – murderous. Looks like the main character is a forensic cameraman so the setting could be a murder.

Titles are shot in the centre, focal point of the screen, audience notice it first.

Mood is set as the camera is centre and the shots are going backwards.

Lighting Dark lighting – reflects characters being dark and mysterious.

When the camera is focused on the man’s bloody face the lighting is dark showing that not is all as it seems.

When the titles are playing, the lighting in the background is quite dark and so the titles show up more because they are a lighter colour.

The mood is set because the lighting is dark and dingy giving a tense tone to the opening two minuets.

Music/Sound

The music is calming, which contrasts with the characterisation we got earlier. You can hear the diagetic sound of the paper flapping when the man is shaking it showing its significance.

As the music contrasts the characterisation, as an audience we don’t know how to take him, as a murderer/innocent man.

The titles are complimented by the music that is playing as they are a blue colour.

The mood portrayed is calming and relaxing through the music played.

Location/Setting

The location is a dark room adding to the conventions of a thriller.

The man in the dark room is complimented by the darkness that is on his face.

We don’t see the titles when the man is in the room just when he is using the camera. Showing that what is happening in the room is too important to be covered by titles.

As the location is a dark room it sets a tense and mysterious tone because the audience cant see everything that is happening in the shot.

Other The character is in a suit symbolising business qualities but contrasted by the action he is doing.

The titles are a blue colour, which symbolises a calming and relaxing atmosphere.

Music helps to set the calming and relaxing atmosphere.

SILENCE OF THE LAMBSDIRECTOR: JONATHAN DEMME YEAR: 1991 CERTIFICATE: 18

Genre Characterisation

Titles Mood and Tone

CameraShot/Angle

Tracking the women through the forest, seems like she is being followed. Dirty shots used. Typical thriller-running away.

Tracking the women makes it seem like she is being followed.

The titles are the centre frame throughout the opening.

Camera tracking the women indicates she is being followed, setting a feeling of unease.

Lighting The low level light symbolises something bad/evil. This helps to set the scene for a thriller.

Low level light throughout the opening could indicate something is wrong.

Titles and the lighting are not linked.

Low level lighting symbolises the eerie mood, the same feeling is carried out through the opening.

Music/Sound The music at the start is eerie strings, sets the genre. You know instantly that it is a thriller.

Eerie string music at the start makes you think something is wrong with her.

The titles and the music are not linked.

At the start of the film, the eerie music starts and builds up throughout the opening.

Location/Setting

The opening is set within a forest which is a typical setting for a thriller.

Within the forest is what looks like an obstacle course. Character could be serious about health and fitness.

Titles are centered to show the importance of them.

Spooky mood is re-enforced by the setting-forest.

Other The opening is set in a forest which is typical thriller scene. It gives you an eerie feel. Mist helps set the scene.

The clothing worn is sportswear, shows she likes exercising, or could be to do with her career.

Titles are black with a white outline and they are in capitals, making them stand out.

Forest gives you a feeling of unease setting the mood and leading to the feel of suspense.