This document analyzes the 2004 film Torque through its use of genre conventions. It notes the isolated desert setting, diegetic car engine sounds establishing a race, and close-ups of gear shifts and speed dials that immerse the viewer in the racing action. Musical cues are also discussed, with the non-diegetic score rising in volume after the race begins. In summarizing key details, it states the film's release date, director, composer, main actors, and that the plot involves a motorcyclist discovering drug-filled bikes sought by a violent gangster.
2. • Desert – isolated area, not the stereo - typical place for a racing movie
• 2 Cars reving engines - diegetic sound, typical to this genre of film
• Straight road – from this we can assume a race is about to take place
• Film goes straight into the action – this film shows from the start what genre it is and what is going to happen through out
• Close up on gear stick – getting ready to race
• Lights change from red to green – showing it is time for the race to begin
• Wheel spin – showing the speed – typical of a racing film
• The characters costume consists of rings, bling and skulls we can start to create an image of what he is going to be like with out
having seen his face – the stereo type you may imagine to be racing
• The camera is on the speed dials and then cuts back to an external shot so that you create the image of the race taking place
• There is an over the head shot / establishing shot of the race happening – this allows the audience to follow the characters and
cars
• There is a extreme close up of the characters eye – it is shown as a sort of fire which then links to the exhaust and the flames
coming from it I think this connotes that this main character has a lot of power and maybe dangerous and at this point we haven’t
been introduced to him
• Sound effects – the car engines starting and reving are all diegetic sound effects that have been emphasized for the audience in
post production – these sound effects help to create the atmosphere of an action adventure film
• Music – this starts up after the cars have started the race – this is a non diegetic sound, it starts of quitter so the audience can
barely hear it and then it becomes louder and more noticeable.
3. Facts
• Release date : January 16th 2004
• Directed by Joseph Kahn
• Music composed by Trevor Rabin
• Actors consist of : Ice Cube, Martin Henderson, Monet Mazur, Jamie
Pressly and Matt Schulze
The storyline is based on when a motor cyclist discovers some motor
cycles filled with drugs and then stores them away, it turns out that a
violent gangster has plans to retrieve them.
