Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis

7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis

1/10

Essex Boys Shot Analysis


2/10

The sharp white lines in the black background could

connote knife slashes, giving a sense of foreboding as to

what is to come. These slashes also immediately

establish the genre of the film as they are quite chilling

and strike fear into the audience.

The white font on the black background also pays

tribute to classic noir thrillers and chiaroscuro lighting,

and with these comes a sinister feeling to the opening

of the film.

Another interpretation to the white

scratches could be someone's nails

snatching or grasping against the screen,

perhaps connoting desperation and

struggle to try and find a way out, which

appears later in the film (especially theend)

The non-diegetic soundtrack that plays alongside the

opening credits also helps to build suspense and tension

with subtle instruments that create chilling sounds.

Scraping sounds can also be heard which help to

reinforce the idea of the slits in the titles being knife

scratches, especially as the noises heard are quite

metallic.


3/10

Non-ambient lighting is used to dimly light the garage up,

this allows the audience to see what is going on but there

is still an atmosphere and a presence of gloominess,

especially towards the back of the garage as it is shrouded

by contrasting shadows. This lighting can often be seen in

thrillers, especially noir thrillers therefore Windsor is using

generic conventions to establish genre within the first

minute of the film.

Windsor uses the garage because it is a generic convention of

thriller, the enclosed claustrophobic environment creates an

unpleasant and undesirable space. Claustrophobic spaces can

be used to make the audience feel the characters vulnerability

as there is no escape, it also intrigues the audience as they

wouldnt want to be in this space themselves.

The character visible in the shot begins by introducing himself

to the audience (non-diegetic narration). His accent

reinforces the title and the geographical whereabouts of

which the film is set and the narration helps the audience see

a different perspective whilst making the events easier to

understand. The voice over also helps the audience to

appreciate the feelings/mood of the character. A similar kind

of voice over is used in American History X

The camera angle used is a POV (point of view) shot and it

helps to place the audience within the mise en scene,

effectively making them as though they are in the film

themselves. Its an interesting shot as it feels as though

the audience are peering out at the character from behind

something and he doesnt know of their presence.


4/10

The character goes from one claustrophobic

environment to another, this time it is much

more enclosed and feels as though the idea of

escape are even less as there are no visible

punctures in the interior. This sort of spaces

are generic conventions and signify the type

of genre this film belongs to

The dust covering every window of the vehicle makes Billy

seem separate from the world and detached from his

emotions. It is also quite dirty and so it acts as a sense of

foreboding as to what sort of activities Billy will end up

getting in to. The cobwebs also show that the car has not

been used in a very long time and could perhaps connote a

warning to the character to stop what he is doing

The use of non-ambient lighting creates a classic noir

feel, especially when noting the reflection of light off

of the grained black leather seats. This is a prime

example of chiaroscuro lighting (light on dark) andhelps to signify the thriller genre.

The mid shot is used effectively here, giving the

audience an insight into Billys appearance and

his body language. It also helps to establish the

location in which Billy is enclosed in.


5/10

The dirt is wiped off of the windscreen and the

audience catch the first glimpse of the hardman

Jason. The way that he appears behind the dirt, some

of it still left on the screen, shows the audience that

he is not a pleasant character. The dirt connotes a dark

personality along with the feeling that Jason is

dangerous and filthy, perhaps because of his stretch in

prison and his brash actions.

The glass in between Billy and Jason (or the audience

and Jason) shows Jasons detachment from emotions,

from his surroundings and other people, it paints him

as cold and primeval as his actions are motivated by

his instincts instead of his morality. It immediatelymarks him out as a bad guy.

A low angle POV shot is used to create an impression of

power and control, these attributes belonging to Jason. On

the other end of this shot is the audience who are made to

feel insignificant and vulnerable when presented with

Jason, this essential to thrillers because it gives the

element of fear and drives home the idea that these

events can and did happen in real life.


6/10

A generic convention often used in thrillers is the vanishing

point, as can be seen here towards the end of the tunnel.

Tunnels are also fairly common in noir films, for example in

the famous The Third Man. The tunnel could represent

looking down the barrel of a gun, the audience are willing

Billy not to drive down it as its almost like a one way ticket to

a life of crime, all because of the influence of Jason.

The Third Man

(1949)

Guns are a generic convention of

thrillers and are often used to kill the

victims, the tunnel connotes the gun

and therefore Windsor has used this

to signify the genre and foreshadow

later events.

Once again a claustrophobic environment is created

helping to further symbolise the idea that Billy is driving

down a one way road, there is no redemption past this

point. The tunnel only has two exits, meaning that escape

will be very difficult, this not only makes the characters

seem trapped but also makes the audience feel as thoughthey are following them down into the rabbit hole

A POV shot is used once again to place the audience

within the shoes of the characters, making it seem as

though they are driving into the tunnel themselves.

This helps to engage the audience and add depth to

the mise en scene. In contrast to the despair of thetunnel the green tones inside could connote ambition,

protection and jealousy.

The tunnel

could

connote the

moral

darkness ofthe events

that are to

come.


7/10

The position of Jason and his body language reeks of his

confidence, showing traditional male instincts that he has to

prove to others that he is powerful and higher up than those

who surround him. Another point that proves this is that he has

hired Billy to drive him around when he is perfectly capable of

doing so himself, this is a symbol of his self-imposed status. This

could show a different side to Jason as it seems he likes being

cared for.

Jasons costume tells the audience that he is a bit of a

wideboy (a ladies man who likes the party lifestyle, into a

few dodgy dealings) this is because of the extravagant shirt

he is wearing, it shows that he likes to be the center of

attention and cares about his appearance. In other wordshe wants to appear to have the bling l ifestyle in order to

show his advance over his peers.

Once again Jason appear behind the glass, showing he is

detached from the world and has an isolated personality.

This is enforced by him being alone in the back seats of the

car, he appears lonely but doesnt need other people

around him.

Jason is framed by the silver trim of the

car door, this makes sure that the

audience are focusing on him and

nothing else. It also adds to the idea

that Jason is confident and has a blingappearance.


8/10

This is a very interesting use of non-ambient lighting, it is being projected on to

the windscreen creating bars of light. These bars could connote the bars on a

prison cell and act as a visual metaphor for prison itself. This develops a sense of

foreboding, especially for Billy because he does eventually end up going to

prison, it also represents the idea that Jason has just come out of prison and

both are driving right back into it again. The bars show that there is no escape

for Billy as he is now working for Jason who has devious plans of his own.

The way that Billy is in sharp focus and Jason is blurred out means that

this scene is all about the way Billy is feeling in his current situation,

having just met Jason and knowing his past. From the facial

expressions of Billy it seems as though he does not particularly want to

be driving for such a dodgy character but he also isnt morally strong

enough to say what he feels or wants and therefore continues to go

against his judgment.


9/10

The bleak location is a generic convention of thrillers, signifying the

genre of the film. A good example of this is the British thriller Harry

Brown which was set mainly around Heygate estate in London. These

cities often act as dystopian locations where all manor of crime

happens and they are generally unpleasant and undesirable. Crime

doesnt just happen in film though, consider the recent London riots

that started amongst these kind of locations.

Heygate estate,

London

Another generic

convention that

Windsor has used to

his advantage is the

gleaming roads, using

the chiaroscuro

lighting to signify thegenre. This adds to

the bleakness of the

location as it is

generally dull and

miserable weather.


10/10

The Essex Marshes are different from the generic claustrophobic

locations usually seen in thrillers but it still delivers the same sort

of effect. The marshes are open but extremely isolated and

detached from the rest of the world, these could be seen to

represent Jasons detached personality.

The way that the land merges into the sea reinforces the idea

of isolation as the audience are unable to see anything

distinguishable for miles, the only thing visible is the horizon.

This a chilling location because there is no where to hide, it is

completely open showing that there really is no escape from

the predator. The location is shouting to the audience

danger!

The bleakness of the land scape connotes the morality of

Jason. The fact that the land stretches on for miles shows

that Jason has no moral boundaries and the lines

between right and wrong will often become blurred. This

could also be represented by the danger of sinking into

the marshes, Jason is the marshes and the sinking is his

moral spontaneous tendencies.

The marshes appear to be primeval (prehistoric,

pristine, original, basic, primitive) and this reflects

Jasons character because he is controlled by

primitive instincts, he is uncivilized and wreckless.

Jason appears to have a

strong presence here, like

this is his wrecking ground,

he belongs here. This can be

shown by his stance and

powerful outline against the

pale background, in addition

to the defenseless man thatJason easily beat up. This can

be delineated by the idea

that once you enter the

marshes you are on Jasons

territory.

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Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis