Thriller stills deconstruction

I thought that it woud probably be quite useful to deconstruct some thriller still shots, so I've chosen 2 shots from modern thriller films, and 2 from old thrillers. And I haven't seen any of the films that the shots came from, so that way I can see how much can be deduced from just one still.

Shot 1


Camera:
This shot is a very long shot, which enables the audience to see the 2 cars and all of the surroundings. The shot was taken from a high angle, which shows how empty the surrounding area is. The camera position (above the action and outside both cars) causes the audience to be onlookers onto the scene, rather than participants.

Mise-en-scene/People:
The shot is in colour, which shows the time in which the film was made. The shot is set outdoors in a deserted area, which is quite typical of the thriller genre. Since the shot was taken at night, the light sources are artificial, with only the car at the back's lights and a torch (presumably being held by the driver of the car at the back) as light sources. Because of the distance of the shot, it's quite hard to make out the people in the shot. But, it looks like there is a male and a female in the front of the car at the front of the shot. The car at the front's lights are off, which makes it seem as if the car has broken down. From the open front door of the car at the back of the shot, it would appear that that car's driver has just got out of the car, supposedly to go and help the people in the other car. However, the driver of the car at the back of the shot is holding a torch, which is shining so brightly that the audience can't tell who the person is (which sets up an enigma code), which seems quite suspicious given that the other 2 people's car has broken down, and they are alone and vulnerable, in a deserted area, at night. Presumably, the people in the car at the front would think that the other car has pulled up to help them, but actually the driver of that other car would in fact be the villain character of the scenario, so he/she will probably kill them, or something. This type of thing would be quite typical of a thriller film, where the audience think that the characters are in trouble, and someone's come to help them, but actually the person who's supposedly come to help them, turns out to be the villain.

Shot 2

Camera:
This shot is a medium/medium long shot, which shows how high up the man is, since the audience gets a good view of the skyline in the background. By having a medium long rather than a long or very long shot, the audience can stil get a fairly good view on the expression on the man's face. The shot is taken from a high place, but the camera/audience is looking straight ahead to see the man. The camera position puts the audience opposite the man, but they are still onlookers onto the situation.

Mise-en-scene:
The shot was taken outdoors. There are tall buildings in the background of the shot, which shows that it is a city location. You can see the tops of buildings (without seeing the rest of them) which connotes being high up. The sky in the background is fairly dark blue, which suggests that the shot is set late in the evening. The shot is in colour, but not particularly good quality colour, which gives an indication of the age of the film. The shot is quite enigmatic, since the audience wonders what will happen to the man.

People:
The shot features a white male, probably in his early 30s. He is reaching up and this gesture code suggests that he is holding onto something. The look of fear on his face, along with the background, suggest that he is hanging from a very high place and is terrified of falling. The man's face is half in shadow, which connotes that maybe he has an evil streak in him, which could be how he got into such a dangerous situation. He is wearing dark clothing, which also links oto the idea of the character having an evil streak.


Shot 3


Camera:
This shot is a medium close up, which allows the audience to see some of the character's surroundings, while also be able to have a good view of the character's facial expressions. The shot is a level frame shot taken at eye level. The camera is positioned in front of the woman, which makes it seem as if the audience are onlookers, but it's also possible that this is a point of view shot from someone sitting across from the character.

Mise-en-scene:
This shot was taken indoors. The background is quite unfocused, but you can still see a window and curtains in the background. The curtains are slightly open and it is light outside (it appears that the light coming through the window is the main light source). From the curtains and the general background, it appears as if the shot was taken inside a room in a house. The shot is in colour which shows that the film is fairly recent. The colour seems quite washed out, which could connote that the situation being depicted in the shot isn't a pleasant one.

People:
The shot features a white female (maybe in her late 20s/early 30s) with (tied back) blonde hair. She is wearing a brown top and a brown cardigan. From her dress code and hairstyle, it would seem that maybe she's a housewife who's been spending the day at home. She's holding the phone to her ear and has a shocked/slightly horrified expression, which suggests that the person on the other end of the phone has given her some very bad news (possibly about her husband/ a family member). This shot is quite enigmatic since it makes thee audience wonder exactly what has been said to make her look so shocked.

Shot 4

Camera:
The shot is a level frame two shot taken at eye level, which shows the interaction between the characters in the shot. It is a medium shot, which allows the audience to have a good view of the characters' dress and gesture codes, while still having a fairly good view of their facial expressions. The camera is positioned behind the woman and to the side of the man, which makes the audience onlookers onto the scene rather than participants. The audience can see the the facial expression detail in the mirror reflection. This frame within a frame can be slightly disorienting but also allows the audience to have a full view of the characters facial expressions. The mirror could be used to symbolise revealing the character's inner feelings and showing who they really are.

Mise-en-scene:
The shot is in black and white with a sepia tone to it, which gives an indication of the age of the film as sepia connotes age. The shot was taken indoors, with an artificial light source. The mirror in the shot is quite large, this mirror would most likely be in a large house, which connotes wealth. There is a lot of wood in the house which also connotes wealth. Lipstick is used as a prop in the shot and lipstick connotes glamour.

People:
There are two characters in the shot. One is a white male, in his late 20s or early 30s, wearing a suit, with one hand on the table/desk/dresser, he has quite shocked facial expression and is looking at the woman through the mirror. The other character in the shot is a white female, in her late 20s or early 30s, wearing a black dress and earrings and a bracelet, her hair is nicely done and she is applying lipstick while looking sideways at the man with a disdainful expression on her face. Both of their dress codes connote wealth and it looks as if they might be getting ready to go out somewhere, this idea is further illustrated by the woman's hairstyle. She is looking sideways at the man which shows her involvement with putting on lipstick, which suggests that she doesn't find what the man is saying particularly important. The man's gesture seems somewhat imposing, perhaps he is trying to get information out of the woman. The woman's jewellery also connotes wealth, the man and woth are probably both relatively well off. The man and woman are looking at each other which shows that they are talking to each other. The characters' facial expressions make the situation appear to be tense, the man and woman are probably in the middle of an argument or heated discussion.