Thriller Opening Analysis- Panic Room

Institutions:
The film is called 'Panic Room', it was directed by David Fincher. One of the production companies was Columbia Pictures Corporation. The film was made in  multiple locations within both New York and California. It was released in 2002. By the 9th June 2002 in the USA, the film had made $95,308,367 gross. In the UK, by the 16th June 2002, it had made £8,202,281 gross.

Audience:
I think with regards to gender this film has no specific target; the cast is not dominated by a gender and the film does not delve into aspects commonly associated with either males or females interests. Certain actors and actresses cast in the film may provide an incentive for both genders to watch the film, Jodie Foster is a very successful female actress and many of her characters come across as strong and assured women, therefore women may be persuaded to watch. Forest Whitaker is a very successful actor whom many males like in his films such as Platoon, which is a film mostly liked by males as it is violent and male dominated. Females may also be drawn to this film due to the main character (Foster) being trapped with her child, women are seen as the main carer for children and generally worry more about the safety of their child, so they can relate to the hardship of the character and be engaged by the film. Due to this, most women watching may be around 25+ as they will be of childbearing age. This is a quote from imdb which shows a users opinion of the film including compliments and criticisms.

David Fincher directs this cleverly conceived thriller about a mother and daughter trapped inside a panic room by three criminals. The film is well-paced and the camera work is slick. The film does well in exploring the confines of the house. Jodie Foster is effective and maintains a high intensity throughout. Kristen Stewart is decent as her daughter. Forest Whitaker plays a slightly sympathetic criminal and does well. Unfortunately, after an engrossing game of cat and mouse, the conclusion is weak. Staple clichés crop up and the film goes for a crowd-pleasing finale that doesn't quite feel right. Still watchable


Technology:
Being released in 2002 gave the film opportunity to gain good access due to the availability of technologies such as the internet. Like most other films released at the time and films since then, there is a website dedicated to the film created by Sony Pictures, giving the audience good insight and access into the film which would not have been available not long ago. By looking through this website, people can gain knowledge of the cast and crew and read reviews to find out (if they have not seen the film) whether they will like it or not. This is something that is very important in helping the film to gain viewers. People can easily see reviews which may help persuade them to see the film. The website does not contain clips of or the full film. But, other websites such as youtube give the audience opportunity to view the film. Also, people can communicate via email and send files with pictures, reviews or clips about the film, helping to gain access and knowledge of the film.

Codes/forms & conventions of the thriller genre:
Something very commonly found in thrillers is bars on windows, or something with the same effect giving an idea of entrapment/danger. This is seen in this opening sequence from the tall overpowering buildings that surround us as we get a low angle view of the buildings making the city seem powerful and possibly dangerous. Even the buildings themselves have features giving the effect of bars with their vast amounts of windows.

Joining with the buildings, the writing style used for the credits show them to be solid, secure and powerful. This could connote the strength of something within the film, possibly a character or even the seriousness of the storyline.

Another way in which the buildings and the city as a whole a shown to be powerful and superior is the camera movement, it is slow, steady and takes has no sudden changes. It shows the city, possibly certain inhabitants of it, to be assured and calm whilst having hold over something or someone. Also, the way in which the camera at certain points seems to peer round the corners of buildings gives the feeling of being followed, a common thriller narrative, it also shows there to be confined spaces, which connote danger, which engages the audience.

The non-diegetic sound helps to emphasise the power of the buildings in that as camera shows a building or looks up to the top of one the music heightens in intensity and adds to the enormity of the buildings. The fact that we can hear the diegetic sound of things such as cars even though we can hear music and are high up in the air suggests the chaos and danger of the city in that if it is that bad, when we are then taken to the middle of it all it must not be a nice place to be.

The narrative structure of the film is linear which I think is suitable and effective as it keeps the audience indulged in the situation rather than heightening the tension and then detracting to a things such as flashbacks which usually relax the audience and lose the effect of the storyline.

I think although the location is lit very well, and we can still see dark areas and quite hidden away places, it adds to the tension as we think that wherever you are, you are in danger. This adds to the power that the music and camera movement has given to the city and its buildings in that it has the inhabitants in a hold and can do something to anyone at any time. This is effective as the audience is made suspicious of a lot of the characters that appear which heightens the tension and suspense. This suspense helps the film become a thriller.

Representation:
I think in this film women are depicted as the main carer of the child, although they are trapped and cannot really help being together the makers of the film must have chosen to have the mother trapped with the child as opposed to the father for some reason. Due to the women being seen as the main carer for the child, as we watch them trapped together their bond is made stronger and the audience can feel it and it adds to the tension as we sympathise with the two characters and want them to get through the situation.

Addition after teacher's comment:
The colour in general seems to be grey, usually this is given out by the buildings. This colour suggests it is not a pleasant place to be and there is little hope for people who may be in danger. Also, working with the idea of the bars created by the tall stature of the surrounding buildings, the grey gives the feeling of a prison, making the inhabitants trapped in this area. 

I think this is done effectively and gives the audience the idea that something bad is going to happen within the confines of this city. Also, this prison-like feeling may make the audience feel trapped, increasing the tension of the film.