Paranormal Activity (2007)

Director: Oren Peli
Writer: Oren Peli
Stars: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs


The Story:

Katie and Micah are a young couple who have moved into their first house together. However, Katie has a secret that she failed to tell her boyfriend - ever since she was 8, she has been visited by some kind of demon. They are frequently disturbed by the night time presence of the demon and use a home video camera to record their findings.

How is this an archetypal thriller?:

Key Scenes:

• The door opening and closing by itself.
• The noises from downstairs.
• Footsteps in the powder.
• Katie being dragged out of bed.
• The picture being found in the attic.

Heroes and Villains:

In the case of Paranormal Activity, there are no real heroes, however there is one clear villain - the demonic being which is present in Katie and Micah's house. Some would class Katie and Micah as heroes whereas I do not. This film has the typical tendancies of a horror/thriller. It is a classic villain driven plot (in this instance, the demon is the villain) where Katie and Micah have to overcome the obstacles that are set for them by the demon so that they can have a happy life together. However, that will not be the case...

Devices:

• Soundtrack - There is no musical soundtrack. This adds tension to the film as the audience cannot rely on music to foreshadow the 'jumpy' scenes.
• Home video film style - This makes the film seem much more believable as it is from Micah and Katie's perspective making it seem so much more real. The reactions that Katie and Micah give are also very believale, and they seem like such a normal couple making the audince feel it could happen to anybody.

In my opinion, this is a very successful thriller. It has an element of horror, a good storyline and the characters are relatable. I would highly recommend it!

Manchurian Candidate (1959/2004)

Synopsis:


'The Manchurian Candidate' was originally a novel written by Richard Condon. Based on the book, it is a political thriller about the son of a prominent US political family who is brainwashed into being an assassin for the Communist party.


Director:


1959 - John Frankenheimer
2004 - John Demme


Cast:


1959 - Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh
2004 - Denzel Washington, Liev Schrieber, Meryl Streep, Kimberley Elise

Both of these films follow the same plot, however some details have been changed in the updated 2004 version. Both films can be categorised into psychological, paranoid and political thrillers.


Both films refer to social and historical contexts and both highlight the tension and threat of the time. For example, communism and the threat to democracy feature heavily in both films. Even though the films are supposed to be for entertainment purposes, they also convey a serious message.


Key Scene - murder of Senator Jordan - 1959: shooting
                                                                     - 2004: drowning


What devices does this film use?

• Exaggeration - in both versions of the film, exaggeration is used extensively to make the film seem darker, sadder and stranger than reality. Manipulation of the human mind instills terror into the audience as something that is impossible becomes real.
• Non-diegetic music - tension is built through the films through the music as the music does not give the audience any idea as to what is coming next. There are no sinister violins and no give aways which makes the following scenes even more unexpected.
• Simple editing - the fact that no fancy editing is used makes the film see more real. The audience begins to believe that what is happening on the screen is real which makes it even more terrifying.

Oedipus Rex: an inappropriate relationship takes place between Raymond and his mother,      Eleanor. In the films, we only see a kiss between the two, however in the novel they engage in sexual activity.

Which one is the better thriller?

In my opinion, the 2004 version of 'The Manchurian Candidate' is the better of the two. The acting was better, the dynamics of it were on the whole more advanced and the film overall was more appealing.

Psycho (1960) - Alfred Hitchcock

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles

'Psycho' was originally a novel written by Robert Bloch which followed the same synopsis.

The Story:

Marion Crane is stuck in a dead end job. After being trusted to put a large amount of money in the bank, she takes the money and runs from the law. After a stormy evening of driving, she eventually pulls over for the night at Bates Motel, a practically deserted old motel. She meets the manager, Norman Bates, who appears to be very attached to his mother. But Marion is about to get a little more than she bargained for...

Is this an archetypal thriller?

• External threat from a mad man
• Fast paced, frequent action (shower scene, car chase, staircase scene, cellar scene)
• Villain driven plot

What devices are used?

• Music - the music used in 'Psycho' is one of the most well known pieces ever composed and is reused extensively due to the terrifying nature of it. Composer Bernard Harman wanted the music in 'Psycho' to instill terror onto the audience. The screeching violins and no other instruments helped create this atmosphere as they make the audience want to reach for their ears.
• Screenplay - a lot is left to the imagination in this film. This means that the audience can anticipate what is which could make it more terrifying.

Is this a successful thriller?

I believe that this is a very successful thriller. It is one of Hitchcock's greatest creations that is certainly terrifying. All of the devices used add to the atmosphere of the film and make it even more enjoyable to watch. The story is gripping, that characters are believable and the twist at the end adds a whole new feel to the film. I would highly recommend this film!

'North by Northwest' - Alfred Hitchcock

North by Northwest

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writer: Ernest Lehman

Stars: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason

The Story:

Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), an innocent New York advertising executive is mistaken for a government agent. This leads to him being pursued across the United States of America battling with life or death situations. Along his journey, he meets the beautiful Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint). However, she is not all that she appears to be, and he soon comes face to face with the man trying to kill him, Mr Vandamm (James Mason).

In what way is this an archetypal thriller?

Key Scenes:

o   Roger being kidnapped

o   The stabbing at the UN

o   Being chased on the train

o   Trying to be killed by the plane whilst waiting for Mr Vandamm

o   Being shot in the café by Eve

o   Stopping Eve getting on the plane

o   Cliff scene at the end when there is a chance of death

Heroes and Villains:

A typical element of a thriller is a constant battle between the hero and the villain. In this case, Roger Thornhill (Grant) is the hero and Mr Vandamm (Mason) is the villain. Mr Vandamm is constantly being perceived as the more powerful of the two, and Roger must overcome the difficulties that are placed in front of him by Mr Vandamm. These are sometimes considered life-threatening.

Devices:

The following devices are crucial in a successful thriller. Here are some examples of when these devices are used in the film:

o   Suspense – whilst Roger is waiting for Mr Vandamm to arrive upon their first meeting, several cars travel past him. The viewer is constantly wondering if Mr Vandamm is in one of the cars that pass, but they never stop. When a man does eventually get out of a car, the viewer expects this to be Mr Vandamm. However, we soon learn that it is just a man waiting for the bus. The viewer becomes anxious as to when Mr Vandamm will turn up to confront Roger.

o   Red Herring – the character of Eve Kendall is somewhat of a red herring. This is when the viewer is fooled into thinking one thing, when really it is not the case at all. When we first meet Eve on the train, the audience suspects that she is just an ordinary woman. However, we later learn that she is involved with the villains and we suspect that she has gotten close to Roger in order to find out information and carry out the task of killing him. But finally, near the end of the film, we learn that she is involved in the scheme, but not through her own choice. She is being manipulated by Mr Vandamm, but she eventually follows her heart and helps Roger escape death.

o   Cliff-hanger – there is a literal cliff-hanger at the end of the film when Roger and Eve are hanging off of Mount Rushmore when they are just about to be killed. The audience is on the edge of their seat waiting to see if they survive or not.

Villain-Driven Plot:

This story is mainly focused around Mr Vandamm’s obstacles set for Roger Thornhill. His job is to avoid any of the life-or-death situations that are set for him.

MacGuffin:

The macguffin in North by Northwest is a microfilm that Mr Vandamm and associates want to take to another country. The microfilm is what drives the film on. However, in most films, the macguffin is usually irrelevant and the audience forget about it until it later reappears in the film.

Is this a successful thriller?

In my opinion, ‘North by Northwest’ is a successful thriller. It contains all of the elements of a good thriller and it captivates the audience watching it. Hitchcock has skilfully directed the film to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat throughout.

The Birds

The Birds

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Daphne De Maurier (Story), Evan Hunter (Screenplay)

Stars: Tippi Hendren, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette

The Story:

Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hendren) is a wealthy San Francisco socialite who is used to getting everything she wants. She pursues a potential boyfriend to a small town in North California where things take a turn for the worst. The birds of the town begin attacking the villagers causing chaos and panic.

What qualities does this film have of an archetypal thriller?

o   Birds outside the school with the children inside.

o   The children’s birthday party.

o  

This film is a classic example of a thriller. There is plenty of fast-paced action that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats whilst rooting for the main characters to avert the crisis and save themselves and the town.

Devices:

This film uses various techniques to create tension and add suspense.

o   No soundtrack – Alfred Hitchcock chose not to make a soundtrack for ‘The Birds’. He did this as the audience can really listen for the sound of the bird’s wings flapping and their cawing. This lets the viewer know that the birds are getting closer and there is about to be another attack. It also adds a sense of reality to the film. As there is no backing music, the viewer can actually believe that what they are seeing is real and not staged. It makes it more believable and so the audience feel more involved, heightening their fear. It’s as if the sound of the birds is the soundtrack of the film.

o   Extended silences – the elongated silences create tension as the audience is anxious to hear the sound of the birds.

In my opinion, this is a successful thriller as it keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and there are lots of twists in the story.

Film Language

Camera:

Camera framing is important as it shows us the important things we need to know. There are different shot distances that are commonly used in films - long shot, close up, extreme close up, mid-shot and point of view shot. All of these will help with the understanding of the film as we can see details, establish where the film is set or see through someone else's eyes.

Editing:

Editing is the process of looking at footage that has already been shot and joining it together in the desired order. There are 2 areas of editing: the speed of editing (how long does each shot last?) and the style of editing (how is each shot joined to the next?). The speed of editing will determine the mood of the film. Fast editing will create tension and panic whereas long frames will allow the audience to take in what is on screen to get a full understanding.

Some ofthe most common syles of editing are: a straight cut (most commonly used), fade out (the scene fades to black), dissolve (one image is slowly brought in under another one), wipe cut (one picture swipes across the screen to replace another) and a jump cut (the audience's attention is immediately drawn to something that was not in the shot originally which removes part of the continuity of the film).

Sound:

There are 2 types of sound: diegetic and non diegetic. Diegetic sound is 'in the world of the film' and is something that the characters and the audience can hear. These are things like dialogue or a doorbell ringing. Non diegetic sound is sound that the characetrs cannot hear but the audience can. An example of this is a voice over.

Mise-en-scene:

Mise-en-scene is a French term for 'what is put into the scene or frame'. What is seen at any given moment on the screen can reveal a lot about the film. For example, if there was a gun in the scene, we could determine that the film is most probably a thriller or an action movie. Mise-en-scene can be sub-categorised into 5 sub-genres.

1. Settings and Props - these factors are one of the most important parts of film making. The setting of the film will reveal the type of film it will be, what time period it was set in and the overall mood of the film. The same principl goes for props. For example, if the setting of a film was an abandoned castle, theaudience would know that the film would fall more towards a horror/thriller genre.

2. Costume, Hair and Make-Up - cotumes allow the audience to distinguish the time period and the location of the film. For example, in a period drama, the women would be wearing full length dresses and the men would in turn wear tail-coats. However, if the characters were wearing swimwear we would know that the film takes place near the beach. Make-up is used to highlight facial features and make the actors look more flawless than they may be in real life.

Facial Expressions and Body Language - the body language and facial expressions of characters will giv the audience an idea of how they are feeling. For example, if someone has their arms wrapped around themselves, they are either cold or frightened. However, if their arms are outstretched and they are smiling they are obviously happy and content. This also helps the audinece determine what genre te film would fall into.

4. Lighting and Colour - lighting can highlight specific parts of a frame to draw attention to them, or oppositely it can hide parts of the frame in shadow. For example, low key lighting will create silhouettes to make someone look mysterious. Colours can give the audience an idea of the mood of the scene as different colours carry different connotations. For example, pale blue is a calming, tranquil colour, yet red signals danger, love or blood.

5. Positioning of Characters and Objects Within a Frame - if a character or object is in the foreground of the frame, the director is drawing attention to them which means the audience must pay attention to them. Putting two things on either side of the frame will create balance. If all people/objects are on one side of the frame, the frame will feel unbalanced.

Camera Movement

The way the the camera moves creates different effects on the viewer and helps add effect to the film.


Panning Shot - the camera moves slowly from side-to-side on a fixed axis. This establishes the   shot and sets the scene or follows someone across a shot.


Tilt Shot - the camera moves up and down on a fixed axis. This works in the same way as a panning shot.


Crane Shot - the camera moves around at a distance above ground level. This can be from a crane, helicopter etc. This shot is common in chase scenes.


Tracking Shot - the camera is placed on a track and follows the action. Usually used when someone is running alongside the camera.


Rolling Shot - the camera moves diagonally making the image look askew (often used for drink/drug scenes). This makes the shot seem unbalanced.

What is a Thriller?

'Thriller' is a genre that can be quite tricky to identify. It's vague and the name of the genre itself isn't really anything to go by. So how can we describe a thriller?

'A thriller is a difficult genre to pin down because it covers such a wide range of films. Thrillers are films of suspense that are supposed to instill terror into the audience' - Susan Hayward.

'When you enjoy something, you must never let logic get too much in the way. Like the villians in all James Bond movies. Whenever Bond breaks into the complex: 'Ah, Mr Bond, welcome, come in. Let me show you my entire evil plan and then put you in a death machine that doesn't work' - Jerry Seinfeld.

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film and television that includes numerous and often over-lapping sub-genres. Thrillers are characterized by fast-paced, frequent actions and resourceful heroes who must thwart the more powerful and better equipped villain.


Devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is a villain-driven plot whereby he/she presents obstacles a hero must overcome. The genre is flexible and can engage the audience through a dramatic rendering of psychological, social and political tensions. Alfred Hitchcock said thrillers allow the audience to 'put their toe in the cold water of fear to see what it is like'.

What categories of thrillers are there?

• Spy (eg. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)
• Political (eg. The Manchurian Candidate)
• Conspiracy (eg. The Bourne Identity)
• Legal (eg. Michael Clayton)
• Psychological (eg. 127 Hours)

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my Media Studies AS Level blog!


I will be using this blog to show my coursework which will help me achieve my A Level in Media Studies.