Thriller 1: Sin City

Sin City (2005)
Directed by Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Action/Crime Thriller


Camera - The scene first opens showing a shot of a female character. We are first shown this character using an extreme long shot which establishes the location and setting of the scene. This shot also allows the audience to make a first impression on the characters appearance allowing the them to connect and establish what the character is like. Throughout the rest of the scene, the camera using a combination of mid-shots and close-ups which connotes meaning of relationships and closeness between the female character and now, a newly introduced male character, in the shot. The director uses this style of shot to represent the emotion and recognize the characters facial expressions which allows us to gain further understanding of the characters relationship and emotions towards each other.

Editing - The director uses a mixture of red, white and black throughout the opening extract. The setting is all black and white which contrasts to the female protagonist' brightly coloured red dress; therefore, this establishes the importance of this character. The director has used a bright light to highlight the main source of action in the scene which also indicates the importance of the scene and the characters in it.


Sound - The scene starts off with a voice over from the main male antagonist; this sound is non diegetic which is indexical to the thoughts of the male character. The music in this scene is parallel to the action and feel of the scene, it is slow and calm which matches the atmosphere the director is creating through the use of  camera, editing, lighting and mise-en-scene. The use of diegetic sound through the use of dialogue and voice adds to the sense of realism in the scene.


Mise-en-scene - The use of limited props make the characters in the scene stand out; this continues to establish that the director wants us to focus on the characters. Props such as cigarettes denotes what type of people they are. Also, the background in the scene which is a city scape, tells the audience where the story is set and the location the characters are in.