Panic Room was written by David Koepp and released in 2002, and although the storyline is slightly original the camera shots are very unique and add a much more sinister affect to the film along with the music. The tone of the film is instantly set with opening title which features a chain of shots of New York City, and built into these images are the credits.After the credits Meg (Jodie Foster) and Sarah ( Kristen Stewart) are seen walking into a house which is for sale. The house is very large but with little lighting giving the house a dark edge. The music again adds a menacing tone to the atmosphere. As the scene progresses the audience see the panic room, which is for emergencies. The room has very bright lights compared to the lighting of the rest of the house and emphasises the claustrophobic atmosphere.
Meg falls asleep the camera pans around the house to downstairs. There is noir lighting which creates a shadowy tension. Looking out of the window, a typical convention of the thriller genre is seen: the rain and wet streets. The only sound now is rain and wind coming from outside. As the camera pans across the room the viewer can see three men look into the house from outside. As Burnham breaks into the house upstairs he notices the Meg and Sarah. This seems to shock him as if he wasn't expecting them to be there.
The plot of the film is typical for the thriller genre, a villain (Raoul) who presents obstacles the hero must over come, also the villain is trying to get money.
Reflecting basic understanding of the genre, but you could take a broader view and look at how the director utilises claustrophoic spaces in this film. You could include inter textual references to other thriller which also utilise this generic convention.
ReplyDeleteA rather undeveloped analaysis of some the generic conventions in Panic Room.
ReplyDeleteA discussion on the representation of gender in this film would be useful,particularly the representation of the victims and the villains.