Unknown Film Analysis

This post is about the film Unknown, which is a change from the usual Alfred Hitchcock I have described about in my previous posts. 

We'll start the post by analyzing the Unknown trailer. The trailer has typical elements that you would find in a thriller. The trailer has a lot of jumpucts to give the viewers an idea of the type of film it is. In addition the trailer uses fast action paced music, where it has climax until the end, where it shows the explosion of the hotel It room. It appeals to the audience because it keeps the audience on edge and leave them wondering WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

The plot behind Unknown. 

Dr. Martin Harris awakens from his 4 day coma in Berlin to discover that his wife, Liz, suddenly doesn't recognize him and another man has taken his identity.Ignored by Berlins authorities and being hunted down by mysterious people who want him dead, he finds himself alone and confused.

With the aid of a young woman, who rescued him, he tries to find out the real reason of why he seems to be non existence. 

This film is based on the book Out of My Head by Didier Van Cauwelaert

Director:  Jaume Collet-Seura

Writer: Oliver Butcher, Stephen Cornwell. 

Starring: Liam Neeson(Dr Martin Harris), Diane Kruger (Gina) and January Jones (Liz)

It grossed up to $130, 786, 397 worldwide. 

The film had good characteristics that showed elements of a thriller. It had a lot of tension. One scene that stood out for me. 

We see Dr Harris tied up and trying to reach for the scissors that has been left on the dead nurse. The sound in the scene is very disorientating as it links in with Dr Harris mind: confusing. Moreover the lighting in the scene, is not bright a lot of blue undertone is used to give an illusion of mystery. 

The use of fast editing leading up to the escape is used to add tension to the scene, to make the audience more aware of the scene and feel as if they have taken the position of Dr Harris. 

Furthermore, the club scene has elements of a thriller. The loud booming music is heard in the background its threatening and disorientating- it doesn't makes sense. There's a sense of mystery as only dark shadows can be made out in the midst of all the people. The viewers share the Doctor Harris' and Gina's confusion. 

There also is use the McGuffin. The use Prince Shallah and his connection with world food, gives us the basis of the story. But we as the audience are primarily interested in Dr Harris. 

The car chase scene has included a lot of elements that have contributed to make it a memorable scene with a lot of tension. There is a lot of jumpcuts that make the scene have a bit more action. The sound played behind it is a fast paced string sound, to create tension. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/

Psycho Overview

A few lessons ago we watched another Alfred Hitchcock movie... PHYSCO.

Before we get started with the film Physco, let us find information about who made Physco possible.
The screenplay writer is Joseph Stefano and based on the Robert Bloch novel. 
The movie stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh and Vera Miles. 

Marion, a young woman who works as a Phoenix office room worker, was trusted with $40,000 to keep in the bank. However, in a crazy spur of the moment she keeps the money and decided to get married to her long-term journey. As she takes the journey to her boyfriend's town she drives off the main highway where she stays at an isolated motel called The Bates Motel. Where she encounters the young Norman Bates, manager of Bates Motel, who seems to be very aware of his mother and what she demands. 



Different elements of what is considered a THRILLER is shown throughout the film. 

It is said that as soon as the film was shown in the cinemas, 2 miles of cars were seen to line up to watch the premier of the film.

The external threat was by a mad man, who seemed to be possessed by his mother. He was very deranged. 


There was a lot of fast paced action throughout the film, this gave the thriller the quality which is needed to make a successful thriller.
These fast paced actions can be seen in the shower scene. When Marion was seen showering and then we see a shadow holding a knife, killing her. The effect of using a shadow instead of seeing the person added a real sense of mystery which added to the wonderful twist at the end. 






Devices such as Red Herrings was used. When we believed that the film was about Marion and the money she stole, but then we she died halfway through the film. We realize it is not about her, but about the happenings of The Bates Motel.

Suspense can be identified throughout the film. But one that stuck out is when Marion's sister, Lila, was seen approaching the figure on a chair who we believe is Norman Bate's mother hiding in the fruit cellar, from the police.
As soon as Lila lightly touched her, the figure swiftly turns around and we witness a skeleton of Norman Bate's mother. 


The music climax to the point of where we meet the mother is very eerie. As believe that the mother was alive all this time and she was going to kill Lila, but when we see her in a skeleton form just adds more to the suspense.

The true villain of Physco is Norman Bate's mind. He has been taken over by his mum, to compensate that she is not with Norman anymore and how he refused to take to her husband. 

Hitchcok said a thriller allows "to put their toe in the cold water of fear to see what it is like". This extract is true, as we do not need to be in Marion or Lila's situation feel their emotions throughout the film, but we can be part of the audience to enjoy and it doesn't necessarily have to happen to us.

Media Studies - Camera Shots

Hey all,


This short video shows an example of different camera shots we learned throughout our lessons. We used different examples of camera shots and edited using Final Cut Express.

Examples of Camera Shots used are:

Close Up (CU)
Extreme Close UP (ECU)
Mid shot
POV
High Angle Shot
Low Angle Shot
Panning
Crane Shot

If you didn't get a a good view of the video; here are a few examples of the camera shots we used.

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