What makes a thriller and how is this evident in Seven?
A macro/micro analysis of seven (David Fincher 1995)
The question above is asking about the various conventions needed to create an effective thriller e.g. the characters, mise en scene etc. In addition it’s asking the ways in which those thriller conventions have been applied the film “Seven”. Furthermore I must make a macro/micro analysis of seven. Some of the micro-aspects include cinematography, editing, mise en scene, and the macro-aspects include narrative, representation, ideology and many others. I intend on contrasting the standard micro/macro elements with the macro and micro elements found within the film, as well as comment on the conventions.
The director of the film “Seven” was David Fincher, who has directed many other films such as “Friday the 13th” and “The Nightmare on Elm Street”. All of which contain some thriller elements, allowing us to assume that the film “Seven” is most undoubtedly a thriller due to his past experiences in directing thriller films. The main actors in the film are Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Gwyneth Paltrow; some of these actors have starred in other thrillers, such as Morgan Freeman in “The Contract” and “Along Came a Spider”. The company that financed the film were New Line Cinema, and they also distributed the film; they have also made various thriller films such as “The Butterfly affect 1 & 2”, “Cellular” and “Snakes on a plane”. As you can clearly see the fact that New Line Cinema has produced the media text “Seven”, shows that they’ve had a good experience with making thrillers, and therefore would most probably use their resources to insure it contained required conventions needed in order to create an effective thriller film.
The target audience for this media text would probably be for males due to the main characters being male e.g. Morgan Freeman, Brad Pit, and the ethnicity could appeal to white and black individuals because of the fact that the main protagonists are of both ethnicities. Furthermore the age of the males would be 18-40+, and once again this is evident because of the protagonists age difference.
The narrative structure in the beginning of the film is restricted due to the lack of information, and becuase of the fact that we aren't given any more knowledge than that of the characters. This is denoted in scene 8 when the officers are investigating the gluttony murder, and are unable to figure out his cause of death. This connotes the thriller genre because of the fact that it causes suspense and tension which is a key convention in thriller. In addition it also uses enigma codes because how he died isstill am mystery, and from there both the detectives as well as the audience attempt to figure it out.
Near the very end of the film the narrative structure changes from restricted to omniscient. This is denoted in scene 30 when Summerset opens the box, and finds the head of mills wife in the box. However no one except Summerset knows what’s in the box, and this connotes the thriller genre for a variety of reasons such as the use of theatre of the mind, which causes the audience to once again ponder the possiblities of what Summerset is seeing, creating a sense of realism, and allowing us to place ourselves in the charatcers situation.
They use non-diegetic sound in order to create a sense of tension and suspense throughtout the scene. This therefore raises more enigma codes, making us assume what could possibly happen next. In addition the mise en scene, the charatcers acting further express that the narrative has become omniscient, and this is denoted though Summersets facial expressions once he has opened the box showing a sense of mortification. The audience at that point are capable of connoting that a significantly life impacting event has occured, and this is evident when we denote the cross cutting between Summersets facial expressions, and Mills wondering as to what is happeing.
These changes within the narrative are all common conventions sometimes used to raise enigma codes as well a create and atmosphere of tension.
The narrative structure of the films ends with a closed narrative, and a state of disequilibrium, and this is denoted at the end of the film when the the protagonist Mills is sitting in his car traumatized due to previous events, and
we as the audience are capable of seeing the contrast between the character
he was like at the beginning of the film, and how he is at the end, thus the disequilibrium is created.
They use non-diegetic sound in order to create a sense of tension and suspense throughtout the scene. This therefore raises more enigma codes, making us assume what could possibly happen next. In addition the mise en scene, the charatcers acting further express that the narrative has become omniscient, and this is denoted though Summersets facial expressions once he has opened the box showing a sense of mortification. The audience at that point are capable of connoting that a significantly life impacting event has occured, and this is evident when we denote the cross cutting between Summersets facial expressions, and Mills wondering as to what is happeing.
These changes within the narrative are all common conventions sometimes used to raise enigma codes as well a create and atmosphere of tension.
The narrative structure of the films ends with a closed narrative, and a state of disequilibrium, and this is denoted at the end of the film when the the protagonist Mills is sitting in his car traumatized due to previous events, and
we as the audience are capable of seeing the contrast between the character
he was like at the beginning of the film, and how he is at the end, thus the disequilibrium is created.
The types of characters that are in the filmconists of protagonists,an antagonist, as well as multiple victims. The protagonists are Detective Summerset, and Detective Mills and the antagonist is the killer, and each vitmin ends up representing one of the deadly seven sins. The antagonists within the film is a pychological antagonist because of the way he kills is victims, as well as the reasons behind why he does it. For example when the detectives are in the car with the killer, he willingly explains to them the reasons behind why he killed each victims, and how they related to that deadly sin.
Seven falls into the sub-genre of a psychlogical thriller due the elemtns explored such as the deadly sins as well as the medival ways in which the victims are killed. Furthermore due to the wya in which each character is impacted at the end of the film showing a negative contrast of how they used to be, and what the vents have caused them to become.
Seven falls into the sub-genre of a psychlogical thriller due the elemtns explored such as the deadly sins as well as the medival ways in which the victims are killed. Furthermore due to the wya in which each character is impacted at the end of the film showing a negative contrast of how they used to be, and what the vents have caused them to become.
A convention that is evident in this thriller is antagonists. The antagonist is denoted in the end scene 16, at a high angle placing a gun to Detective Mills head, and is shown but is slightly blurred stopping the audience, and the characters know the identity of the antagonists.This connotes that he has power, and he is clearly the dominant character within the film. In addition i conforms to the thriller conventions becuase the antagonist always seems to remain unkown, and he continously raises enigma codes throughout the film. Furhtermore while being portayed in a mysterious manner there is still a sense of realsticdanger to him, something which is commonly displayed within thriller.
Another convention of a thriller is cheap surprise, and this can be denoted when the detectives are at the suspected antagonists house, untill a figure appears, and unexpectedly begins shooting. This connotes a sense ashock in the audience becuase its something that didn't expect, and that then raises enigma codes. In addition it conforms to conventions as this can be commonly found within thrillers as a lead up to a more signifcant event.
A convention of thrillers that is evident is low key lighting. This is denoted throughout major parts of the movie, for example in scene 20 when they’re in the club, and you can barely see any of the characters. From this you’re able to connote a dark and eerie atmosphere creating high levels of tension and suspense, causing the audience to assume that something is about to happen. This doesn’t challenge the conventions at all due to large scale use of it throughout the entire film.
A final code that is evident is red herring. This is denoted when the supposed dead “sloth” victim turns out to be alive. This connotes a sense of mystery, and shock because both the characters and the audience presumed that he was dead, making us wonder how its possible, which one again raises enigma codes. This conforms to the standard conventions of a thriller because they usually try and make you assume something else, which would then retain the interest of the audience.
The character Detective William Summerset, who is one of the main protagonists, is calm, intelligent, respected, cultural and politically correct, and this is evident due to the way in which he speaks, and converses with other individuals throughout the film. In addition the way in which he dresses represents his characters because he dresses smartly, and dresses in a way that suits both this age, and character. He as an individual is represented in a positive light, and never conforms to the normal protagonist. I believe that the audience were capable of relating to this character because he is a character that has his own story, which is explained when talking to Mills wife, and you can understand as the film progresses the reasons as to why he wishes to leave the police force and retire. In addition he is represented in way that allows the audience to emphathise with him, allowing them to place themselves in his situation. Due to the age of his character he also seems to be less physically active, as proven in the case seen between Jon Doe and Detective Mills
The character Detective William Summerset, who is one of the main protagonists, is calm, intelligent, respected, cultural and politically correct, and this is evident due to the way in which he speaks, and converses with other individuals throughout the film. In addition the way in which he dresses represents his characters because he dresses smartly, and dresses in a way that suits both this age, and character. He as an individual is represented in a positive light, and never conforms to the normal protagonist. I believe that the audience were capable of relating to this character because he is a character that has his own story, which is explained when talking to Mills wife, and you can understand as the film progresses the reasons as to why he wishes to leave the police force and retire. In addition he is represented in way that allows the audience to emphathise with him, allowing them to place themselves in his situation. Due to the age of his character he also seems to be less physically active, as proven in the case seen between Jon Doe and Detective Mills
The character John Doe is the antagonist within the film, and is represented as being sadistic, intelligent, dangerous, and mysterious. The type of antaognist
that this chatcater falls into is a psychological manipulator; this is denoted when he manipulates Detective Mills into killing him so that he can accomplish his goals, and succeed in finishing his plan. This representation is shown through the words that he uses, especially when describing his reasons as to why he has killed those people. In addition the fact that he’s sadist is represented thorough his sheer calmness, and care-free attitude towards killing those people. Furthermore the audience are able to relate to this character because when speaking about the reason behind his killing, they allow him to be portrayed as being morally right, and cause the audience to form their own opinion on his actions and his reasons. In addition i tihnk the fact that he is known as John Doe throughout the film shows a lack of identity, and it stops you as the audience from truly understading him as a chaarcters.
that this chatcater falls into is a psychological manipulator; this is denoted when he manipulates Detective Mills into killing him so that he can accomplish his goals, and succeed in finishing his plan. This representation is shown through the words that he uses, especially when describing his reasons as to why he has killed those people. In addition the fact that he’s sadist is represented thorough his sheer calmness, and care-free attitude towards killing those people. Furthermore the audience are able to relate to this character because when speaking about the reason behind his killing, they allow him to be portrayed as being morally right, and cause the audience to form their own opinion on his actions and his reasons. In addition i tihnk the fact that he is known as John Doe throughout the film shows a lack of identity, and it stops you as the audience from truly understading him as a chaarcters.
In conclusion it has been shown that the narrative structure, codes and conventions and representation all allowSeven to not only conform to the thriller genre but also approach it in a more orignal way. Another thing to mention are the meanings, and values that this film as a thriller puts across to the audience. Revolving around “Seven deadly sins” theme, it connotes the seven traits of a human being that are extremely distasteful. So I believe that Fincher was trying to portray those “sins” in a negative way and emphasise them greatly by creating an entire story around a person driven to rid the world of those very sins alomst bordering evil. In addition at the end of the movie Summerset say’s “The world is a fine place and worth fighting for, I agree with the second part”. In saying this Fincher is able to once again make the story even more realistic, which is a major element in thrillers because they link to real life situations, and problems that don’t just fix themselves and have a happy ending, and i believe that he wants to convey the idea of how a place or world of such importance can contain such evil, despite what it may look like on the outside.
No comments:
Post a Comment