Thriller Comparison

I think that I have created a successful thriller sequence. We aimed to create a thriller sequence that would create tension and excitement for the audience, and we feel that our sequence has achieved this. We used conventional thriller aspects within our film, as well as including a unique twist in our plot, which we think has engaged the audience with our film and narrative.

The micro-element used within our thriller sequence that best shows our creativity and understanding of thriller conventions is mise-en-scene. The lighting for most of the shots in the sequence were relevant to our plot and to the thriller genre - we used low key lighting frequently within the film, which is conventional to the thriller genre. Additionally, the layout and presentation of the bedroom setting that is shown a lot within the sequence portrays conventional thriller themes such as dark, isolated settings and contrasting monochromatic colours. Furthermore, the costumes used in the sequence were relevant, and the bride's wedding dress and veil helped create a hidden identity for the bride/killer. This also applies to the bride's hair and make-up, as she looked frightening and resembled a stereotypical thriller film character/villain.

Comparison To Another Thriller Film

My thriller sequence (Eternal) has both conventional and unconventional characteristics, which helps its comparison to Orphan, relating to: narrative; representation of characters; sound; editing; and mise-en-scene.

The narrative of Orphan can be condensed into: a girl entering a family, but not being as innocent as she first seems. Similarly, our narrative is of a young woman who was about to marry into a family, but the wedding fell through, and she defied all innocent expectations that the characters and the audience had of her. Both seemingly innocent main female characters are revealed to be serial killers and mentally unstable.

The representations of characters within Orphan and Eternal are similar as both films feature female killers. These representations subvert the conventional stereotype of males being the killers and females being the victims. This unconventional aspect of the representation of the films' characters heightens the uniqueness of the films and engages the audience. This also increases the likelihood of females watching the films as they are not being represented as victims within the films.

The female killer/bride in my thriller film

The female killer in Orphan

Both Orphan and my film Eternal use conventional non-diegetic sounds throughout the film/sequence. For example, all throughout the clip of Orphan, there is tense, non-diegetic sound playing. This helps add tension to the atmosphere, as this part of the film is very suspenseful and at times shocking. The music used makes the part of the film seem more frightening, and it engages the audience with the narrative. This is mirrored in my thriller sequence, Eternal, where suspenseful music is heard throughout. Our film also reflects Orphan's use of non-diegetic tense music as, in both films, the music gets faster and louder when there is action on-screen.

From the same clip, we can see the fast editing during the action-filled parts of the scene. This adds to the excitement and engages the audience with the current events in the film. However, our film generally has slow editing the entire way through, except during the last few shots. This is because our entire opening sequence was building up to this moment, so we included mostly slow editing to help build tension.

Lastly, mise-en-scene is very important within Orphan and Eternal. The elements of costume, hair and make-up are very important to both clips. For example, in the aforementioned clip of Orphan, it is extremely important to the plot of the story that Esther, the deceiving adopted 'child', wears black ribbons around her wrists and neck. This is because, as the audience discovers in the clip, Esther is actually a 33 year old woman who has scars around her wrists and neck from being in a straitjacket. She also wears a lot of make-up to hide her true age. Esther's hair and make-up, and costume are all essential to her character's instability and identity. This is also true for the (unnamed) character of the bride; she uses her wedding veil and dress to hide her true identity of being a killer. She is also very unstable and this is evident due to her smeared, messy make-up and the fact that she always wears her wedding dress. It is central to the plot that both of these things remain constant, mirroring Orphan.

Esther (from Orphan) wearing a black ribbon on her neck to hide the straitjacket scar

The bride in my thriller opening sequence, not revealing her identity (with the aid of a wedding dress, veil and make up)