The Usual Suspects - Jonah

• Thriller openings

The Usual Suspects

Mise en scene

·      Low key lighting makes an intension atmosphere of mystery and danger and it redistricts narration partially by not revealing everything on screen clearly.

·      The setting is familiar; a boat is easy to relate to and is nothing obscure. But the fire and broken items suggests this is not a normal boat but in fact a scene of destruction.

·      Clothing is smart/casual giving a slight clue to the viewers, that these people are not lower class hooligans.

·      The props resemble damage and danger, the fire, smashed glass and crates.

·       Iconography of suspense, the props add characteristics, e.g. the cigarette, this may create an enigma.   

Sound

·      The contrapuntal sound creates a threat, and with the minimal dialogue it adds to the suspense and thrill of the scene as the viewer does not rely on being told what is going on.

·      The soundtrack builds to a crescendo, off screen diegetic sound  creates suspense and an enigma.   

 

Editing

·      The shot/ reverse shot used in the scene redistricts narration as only the body of the man standing is revealed, creating an enigma around the character.

·      Eyeline match also redistricts the narration, not revealing the standing character in full.

·      Time manipulation is used to create the story in a non-chronological order, which adds to the suspense as the conclusion is revealed first and the build up to it follows.

·      Discontinuity editing is used to break up the action, as the man is shot it jumps to shots of the harbor.

      

Camera work

·      CU’s used to show facial expressions in the characters laying down, disappointment and hopelessness.

·      Wide LS/ELS to show contexts after the man’s death, may relate to later on in the narrative.

·      Focus pulling to show detail and significant props, such as the lighting matches and gun. And slow-mo on the cigarette shows the signification of the cigarette being dropped.   

·      The soundtrack runs parallel to the scene as there are long takes and the music is slow but sinister.

·      The long takes create suspense and tension as the pace is slow.

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