1. Se7en
CRIME and THRILLER conventions.
Synopsis:
When retiring police Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles a final case
with the aid of newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt), they discover a number of
elaborate and grizzly murders. They soon realize they are dealing with a serial killer
(Kevin Spacey) who is targeting people he thinks represent one of the seven deadly
sins. Somerset also befriends Mills' wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), who is pregnant and
afraid to raise her child in the crime-riddled city.
2. INTELLECTUAL AND DECEPTIVE
ANTAGONIST
• A convention of crime and thriller films is a smart and intellectual
antagonist. In the movie se7en, the 2 main protagonists are led on a
hunt to try and find the identity of a serial killer who his using his
murders to represent the seven deadly sins of the bible. This
concept alone shows that the antagonists reasons for murder are
more than simply a lust for blood or being trigger happy or being
angry in the moment. It shows he is more complex than most
criminals and that he has an agenda.
• Also he leaves little evidence at the crime scenes and is incredibly
difficult to catch.
• Crime and thriller films will use this convention to create an exciting
and unpredictable plot in which the audience will be on the edge of
their seats throughout. It allows the film to have a more complex
and interesting plot, with any twist being surprising and clever as
audiences shouldn't be able to confidently predict the outcome of
the story..
3. Low key lighting
• The film se7en uses low key lighting
throughout. Many settings such as crime
scenes are presented with low key lighting to
connote a sense of mystery and suspense.
• This allows the plot to seem eerie and
unpredictable
4. Props
• In the movie se7en, there is a use of police
iconography. For example many props such as
police badges and side arms are shown
throughout. This is done to add level of
realism and be accurate to real life allowing
the film and its plot to appear more
believable. The use of weapons such as pistols
also helps connote a sense of danger which
5. URBAN SETTING
• A common convention of crime and thriller
films are that they are usually set in urban
areas such as cities. Usually cities are
presented as being places were crimes and
danger are extremely prominent. This is done
as many of the audience will be familiar with
cities and this makes the plot more personal
and disturbing.
6. HEAT
• CRIME THRILLER GENRE.
Synopsis:
• Master criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is trying to
control the rogue actions of one of his men, while also
planning one last big heist before retiring. Meanwhile,
Lieutenant Hanna (Al Pacino) attempts to track down
McCauley as he deals with the chaos in his own life, including
the infidelity of his wife (Diane Venora) and the mental health
of his stepdaughter (Natalie Portman). McCauley and Hanna
discover a mutual respect, even as they try to thwart each
other's plans.
7. Action sequences
• The film Heat uses many action scenes throughout,
however the shootout on the city roads outside the
bank remains iconic even today. This convention allows
the film to be more exciting and entertaining. It is often
at the climax of suspense, and this allows the action to
be extra dramatic and intense, for example in heat the
shootout is as they are walking out of the bank with
millions in cash.
8. Props/guns
• Another convention used is props such as
guns. In the film heat many different guns
ranging from pistols to automatic rifles. This is
a common convention of any crime film and
connotes to the audience a sense of danger. It
allows the story to be more interesting and
intense as every situation in the plot becomes
a matter of life and death.
9. Scarface
• Crime and thriller.
Synopsis:
• After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a
Cuban government official, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) stakes a
claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone
who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest
drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that
comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the
police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-
fuelled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual
downfall.
10. The rise and fall of the protagonist
• In the film Scarface we follow the rise and fall of
tony Montana and his drug trade. We see him
start out in America working in a fast food stand,
to eventually controlling and dictating the entire
Miami cocaine trade.
• This allows the audience to become personally
attached to characters as they see them rise
through the ranks from nothing to something and
perhaps the audience can relate to this desire of
more.
11. costume
• The costuming used in Scarface almost
represents Tony's level of power at different
stages in the film. For example at the start of
the film we see him wearing basic cheap
clothing which connotes his level of power at
this time, which is very little. Where as later
on in the film we see him wearing expensive
and flashy suits.
12. setting
The film Scarface is mainly set in urban areas such as cities because this is where crime is
most prevalent. Also, in the crime-thriller genre, we often see an isolated setting used when
the antagonist or protagonist makes his last stand. For example in heat we see the main
characters have a final shootout on a runway late at night. And for example in Scarface we
see Tony Montana make his last stand in his mansion alone.
This could be done to connote how criminals in this genre, may live a luxurious and grand
lifestyle in the short term, but ultimately and inevitably die alone and often in a brutal
manner. This is the theme that if you live by the sword you die by the sword which is relevant
in many films in this genre.
