Thriller movie analysis

Now you see me (2013)

This Opening sequence starts of with a man looking straight at the camera with shadows across his face and a dark background behind him, with blurred out light. This is done so he is focused on and looks more mysterious and intense. During this part of the scene there is slowly building dramatic non-diegetic music. There is an over the shoulder shot for the crowed surrounding him, focusing mainly on the girl he's talking to. You can hear his voice and the woman's voice. When the shot jumps back to a medium close up of him his face is blurred in the back while his cares are the main point in the shot, this is done to draw attention to what he's doing. There are many close up of there faces to build tension. He then pulls of an amazing trick that leaves you wondering how he did it. 

Then there is a quick jump to another man pulling of another amazing trick that is unexplainable. This shot starts with a extreme close up of a poster of the eyes of this man. This was done to give a hint to what tricks he performs. Then the shot jumps to his face where his facial expression gets intense as he is pulling of this trick and the music is building once again. There are also many extreme close ups of the mans face who's being tricked to show his expression and reaction to what the magician is doing. This man also brings a humour side into his trick that will make the audience lighten up and enjoy the movie.

There is another quick jump to a boat where another man is attempting to pull of an unexplainable trick. In this scene it starts with a hand held shot where the camera follows the magician. This is done with only diegetic sound, such as wind and the noises of the boat. Then non-diegetic music quietly begins as he starts his trick. the shot jumps to a hand held shot from inside the crowd. This is done so the audience feels like they are apart of the movie, as if there where standing in with the crowd. This shot jumps to a different position in the crowd. There is a over the shoulder shot of the crowd with slightly building non-diegetic music. However, his trick was found out. This shot then consisted of many close ups as a person from the crowd exposes the props in his trick. This would make the viewer wonder why his trick was found out but then they realise he wanted it to be found out in order for him to rob somebody. Which leaves the viewers once again wondering how.

Once again another quick jump to a forth performer who is tempting a escape act in front of many people. This starts with non-diegetic music that continued from the previous screen and diegetic sounds of the crowd. There are close ups of her hands and feet being chained up. This is done to show how difficult it would be to pull of the trick she's about to perform. When she gets dropped in the tank there are many quick jumps from her to the crowd and the timer, this is done to build suspense and show the how quick the time fly's. When she begins to struggle the music turns more dramatic. when the timer ends it looks like she's being eaten alive, however that was her own unexplainable trick because she appeared outside the tank perfectly unharmed. This clip had dramatic music building up at the beginning but when her trick when wrong all you could hear is the diegetic sounds of the crowd and the water splashing. 

This thriller opening uses the hermeneutic code to draw ing the views and make them want to continue watching the movie in order to find out why they are all connected and how they pull of the tricks they do.

The Hermeneutic Code

What is the Hermeneutic Code?

A Hermeneutic Code is something that makes the viewers ask questions due to something that is left unexplained. This often happens at the beginning of the story and by doing this, tension is created. The Hermeneutic code play a part in the origin of all mysteries. A good story will always tie up the loose ends by the end of the plot.

Thriller subgenres

What genres can go with thriller?

The thriller genre can be matched with many different subgenres. This is because the thriller genre is quite vague on what you can and can't do. A thriller is all about suspense and you are able to achieve this with lots of different angles.

 Here are some examples of thriller subgenres:

• Acton Thriller. This subgenre is where action goes hand in hand with thriller. 

• Conspiracy Thriller. In this subgenre the protagonist must face a organisation who presents a threat.

• Crime Thriller. This subgenre focuses on crime. Physical action and a police force tend to be involved in a crime thriller, where they gather evidence and try to discover the criminal.

• Supernatural Thriller. In this subgenre non-human elements are introduced, the plot line and feel are that of a thriller. Some characters may have special abilities and other supernatural elements might be included, such as vampires and werwolf's.

• Romantic Thriller. This is a subgenre that combine thriller and romance. The genre has the typical thriller plot but a main element is the growing relationship between two characters.

• Disaster Thriller. In this subgenre a disaster takes place, and the antagonist is either trying to stop the disaster or just save themselves before time runs out.

• Techno-Thriller. This genres is a mix between a future science fiction and a thriller. where cutting-edge technology plays an important role.

• Eco-Thriller. In this subgenre the protagonist must stop a threat against the environment that will effect the population if left alone.

• Forensic Thriller. In this subgenre the protagonist is a forensic scientist who deals with unsolved crimes that threaten their lives.

• Legal Thriller. This subgenre takes place in a courtroom. Normally the protagonist is a lawyer who has found a case where its threatening for either them or their client.

• Medical Thriller. This subgenre involves the use for medical abilities becoming a deadly weapon. Mostly it is a virus that has spread to the public. Both the protagonist or antagonist can be doctors.

• Mystery Thriller. This is a subgenre is different from a regular mystery by having more of a fast pace. This brings a more of a thriller element.

• Psychological Thriller. In this subgenre most of the conflict is mental, instead of physical. The protagonist has gotten involved in a situation which threatens their sanity. They must use mental abilities to overcome their opponent, the battle can be inside their head or a battle of wits.

• Religious Thriller. This subgenre uses the history or myths of a religion. Usually a artifact or historical secret is discovered.

• Spy Thriller. This subgenre focuses on adventures of agents.

Thriller Conventions

What makes it a Thriller? 

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome!

This Blog is about the progress of how to make a movie opening. In this blog you'll be able to see my journey from start to finish, along with all the mistakes I might make. You'll be able to see every step I take in making my movie opening. So if you're interested in seeing how its made keep watching.

My name is Lara Holland, and this blog is for my AS Media Studies course work. Every week I will upload my progress on my course to this blog. My movie opening is going to have the genre, 'thriller'. So if you enjoy thrillers this is the blog for you. Hope you enjoy.