7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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Essex Boys Shot Analysis
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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.
7/30/2019 Essex Boys Screenshot Analysis
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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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