Section 2: Analysing Similar Films

Se7en Notes

Narrative structure:
Linear Narrative. Equilibrium at the beginning as the shots we are shown are quite unclear, and what we are seeing doesn’t seem to be of a sinister nature; although the actions the person is taking is very organised and systematic and appears to be a professional.

Thriller codes and conventions:
Partial vision is a key convention that is used in the beginning as we can only see half the picture; although we are aware is a man as the hands and fingers of the person are far to big to be that of a womans.The Question & Answer Model is also used when the man is putting the pictures into the water in his dark room as we don’t know why he has pictures of these people, who they are, and what, if anything, is going to happen to them.

Camerawork:
During the opening sequence we have just two camera angles; extreme close ups, and one panning shot of a filing cabinet. Apart from the panning shot the extreme close ups build mystery around the man that we can see. We can see someone slicing their finger tips, writing in a book, and developing pictures.

Mise-en-scene:
The background can’t be seen clear, but from what we can see it would more than likely be the mans working environment either at home or at work; so it may well be an office type place, but this is unclear. We aren’t given much of a clue as to what is going on we just see someone carrying out some different activities.

Sound:
Initially the music is a heartbeat sounding music at a normal sounding pace – leaving the audience in a false sense of security. It then picks up pace a bit, and screeching, screaming, creaky floorboards, and other creeking bits of furniture. About half way through the piece, pace picks up a lot and the music kicks in. Despite this, the only lyrics used are at the ending, which say, “You got me closer to god” as if suggesting people are going to die in the film because of this person.

Editing:
The editing is incredibly fast paced compared to the sounds at first. The use of jump cuts is used to emphasise the fact the man is quick at what he is doing, and also the fact that time has passed. As the editing stays fast paced, the music does eventually catch it up, possibly showing how in the film things will start off slow, and then just come straight after each other. Also we are shown two different actions on screen via the use of a split screen shot, showing how we is efficient, and could easily do two tasks at once; as if he posses supernatual powers or something of a similar nature.

Graphics:
The font used is quite creapy looking, yet it appears as if it was written by a child of some description, letters are back to front, and all the text varies in size. There is no proper position for the text and it just appears everywhere and anywhere; and jumps around the screen quickly and without warning as if to say this is what can be expected from the film.