Summer Work

Media A Level Homework- Silent Hill

Thriller Genre

The thriller genre is a very specific type of genre. This type of genre is used to create suspense and dramatic tension throughout the film. The aim for thriller films is to keep the audience alert throughout the film and keep them on the edge of their seats. The main structures around thriller films evolve around an escape, mission or a mystery, these are the common elements to a thriller film. This keeps the audience in fear yet excited at the same time. The end of the film will most likely lead to a successful yet highly stressful climax in which all becomes resolved.

The storyline of a thriller film mainly revolves around one individual or a group of characters who come into conflict with each other with a threat that is sometimes unseen. A sudden violence, either crime or murder characterize thrillers. Thrillers often present the world as dark and corrupt with endings in which the evil is overcome. The tension usually heightens when the character/s are placed in a mystery or a trap from which escaping seems impossible. The protagonist is mainly the hero who faces death of their own or somebody else’s life. The antagonist is the villain or evil the protagonist/s must defeat.

The settings of thriller films are usually built around old mysterious houses or mostly in ordinary towns and cities. These settings are resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are challenged against villains determined to destroy them, their town, or the free world. Often in a thriller, the protagonists are faced with what seems to be surreal problems in their mission, and are carried out against the clock, the stakes are high and they face personal dilemmas forcing them to make sacrifices for others. The types of props used in thriller films usually consist of knives, guns, torches, and maps. The antagonist and the protagonist may both use these weapons to assist them in their cause to either create or destroy the evil they are faced with.

Characters usually include criminals, stalkers, innocent victims and troubled women, with deep dark pasts and psychotic individuals, sociopaths who are very troubled. These characters are usually played by women or sometimes well-known actors. The characters usually depend on the need of friends, family, authoritative or religious assistance to help them solve the mystery or reach the climax of the film. Most of the characters in these films do not survive as they are inhumanly killed during highlighted scenes in the film.

The soundtrack in thriller genres is very dramatic and heightens the tension created in the scenes of the movie. A thriller needs something to bring the audience into the movie, and feel as if they are experiencing the danger and suspense for themselves. Crimes, murders, mysteries and chase scenes step up to the next level of fear and suspense when the film is complemented with a well-placed suspense track. The soundtrack creates depth and is the main cause for the fear that is created by the villain or the evil in the film.

Camerawork and editing in thriller films is usually either really steady or moves around quite frantically. Common shots used are over –the-shoulder shots to emphasise the idea that someone is following the victim. Close-ups and extreme close-ups which are obtrusive and will make the audience feel uncomfortable and anxious as to what is going on. Camerawork and editing can also create sudden movements which frighten the audience watching. By doing these sharp, sudden movements the audience will be unaware of what’s hiding behind corners or what’s waiting to attack them the next time they turn around.

 

Silent Hill

In this shot we see an extreme close up of Heather’s eyes. By focusing on her eyes we are able to see the fear she is experiencing in her dramatic circumstance. Before the shot Heather is seen running away from the Order whilst she is dreaming. After the shot we see Heather confronted with a pink rabbit which moves sharply and turns to face her, then she runs and heads towards the merry-go-round. We can’t specifically see anything other than her eyes in this shot however the lighting in this scene highlights her eyes as the main importance in the shot. The soundtrack at this point is very creepy which emphasises the fear in her eyes. The camerawork in this shot specifically focuses on Heather's eyes as the outside of her face is blurred.

 

In this shot we see the Pyramid Head rotating a machine that controls the merry-go-round. This shot is a low angle shot. Before the shot, Heather was running towards the merry-go-round because she was being chased by the Order. The Pyramid Head begun to spin the merry-go-round before Alessa appeared on it. The lighting in this scene is very dark but there is a main focus on the Pyramid Head. The setting in this scene is in an amusement park which was situated at the beginning of the opening scene. The costume the Pyramid Head is wearing is a pyramid shaped helmet and could represent death as it may symbolise a weapon, the fact that it is so large and bulky could suggest that it is a form of torture. He also wears a cloth around the waist to cover his legs which is not typically worn by any other masked creature in thriller films.

This shot is a bird’s eye view shot of the merry-go-round in the centre of a ring of fire. The fire was created by Alessa before this shot was taken. She created it as punishment to the people who live in Silent Hill who burnt her for being accused of being a witch. This is all occurring in Heather’s dream. After this shot Alessa burns Heather and then she wakes up from her nightmare. The setting is still in the amusement park and the main prop we see is the merry-go-round itself with a stall to the right hand side. The lighting in this scene is specifically highlighted by the fire which projects on the merry-go-round which is the main feature of this shot.

 

This shot is a close up of this man attached to the merry-go-round through steel chains and straps. Before this shot Heather had recently just jumped onto the merry-go-round. This is when she encountered the man strapped to the amusement park attraction. After this Heather meets Alessa who then sets the surroundings of the merry-go-round on fire. The costume in this shot suggests that the man is being tortured to hang off of the ride and how horrific the film is. The lighting highlights the man and nothing else it focuses on his face and the pain he is in. The actors fear and pain creates the horrified feel to the film and it shows inhumane actions towards this man. The setting remains the same throughout the opening scene.

 

Finally this shot is a mid-shot of Heather running from the Order. Before this was a shot of Heather’s boots whilst she was running towards the amusement park entrance. After this shot, Heather runs into the amusement park where she begins finding a place to hide until she can escape her nightmare. This scene is set at the amusement throughout the opening scene. The entrance to the amusement park is highlighted through the lighting and shows an evil and psychotic looking clown which Heather runs towards. The clothing Heather is wearing is very modern and brightly coloured which contrasts the conventions of a thriller film.  Heather’s terrified look creates dramatic tension for the audience and her fear elaborates the nightmare she is having.