katy's media blog: October 2013

The Silence of the Lambs is probably one of the most well known thriller films, winning 5 Oscars, directed by Jonathan Demme in 1991, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster . A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. In the clip above, Hannibal Lector is explaining to Clarisse how he ate a man with 'fava beans and a nice Chianti' as he speaks to her from behind the glass walls of his prison cell. It has many conventions in a typical thriller such as the dark, monotone colours, the setting (in a prison) and the slow low pitched music.

Thriller Clip Analysis- The Shining

This is a clip from 'the Shining', the 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson. A family stay in a secluded hotel for the winter where an evil spirit influences the father into violence and his psychic son sees horrific forebodings. The setting is quite eerie as it is in a dark quiet hotel, and the music progressively gets very loud and jumpy, creating suspense for the viewer.

Thriller Clip Analysis- Misery

We Must Finish the Book
Misery — MOVIECLIPS.com

This is a clip from the 1990 film 'Misery' directed by Rob Reiner. In this clip, even though there is no high climax action, the music and camera angles create a huge amount of tension. Winning an oscar, it is one acclaimed thriller films of it's time.

Thriller Clip Analysis- Seven

Seven, directed by David Fincher in 1995 and starring Brad Pitt, Morgan freeman and Kevin Spacey is a modern day thriller based on the hunt of a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. In this clip, one of the detectives finds the other detective's (Brad Pitt) wife's head in a box which was planted by the serial killer. The music begins at quite a slow jumpy pace at a low pitch then progressively gets louder as the action and tension rises.

Thriller Clip Analysis- Rear Window

Rear Window

This clip is taken from the film Rear Window, directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1954. The films stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Jeff, a wheelchair bound photographer (James Stewart) spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. In the clip above, Jeff has been caught spying on the murderer and the murderer is slowly walking up the stairs towards his front door, meanwhile Jeff is defenceless as he has a broken leg and cant fend for himself. This scene clearly represents the genre as being a thriller as tension is built throughout, due to the complete darkness and the slow footsteps appearing louder as they get closer to the door, keeping the viewer on edge.