1. Close up shot engages the audience with the Noir lighting is a generic convention ‘The Bride’ is made to look powerless and
character and shows extreme emotion. This within thrillers and is used throughout vulnerable through a high angle shot. The
allows the audience to empathise with the this scene. Black and white tones are wounds on her face suggest that violence is a
character, making them feel sympathetic used to imply flashbacks which are big part of the film (common generic feature
towards her. common generic conventions in thriller in thrillers).
films. Tarantino pays tribute to classic
POV shot from ‘Bill’ – Creates an enigma;
noir thrillers such as ‘The Third Man’
who is Bill? This captivates the audience and
and ‘Gilda’.
motivates them to keep watching.
A sound-bridge is created with the diegetic Tarantino also used Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Bang Bang’ to introduce the film. The lyrics to the
sound of ‘The Bride’ breathing heavily. song fit perfectly with the story of the film.
This creates tension and suspense at the
‘He wore black and I wore white,
very beginning of the film, immediately
establishing genre. The sound-bridge adds He would always win the fight….’
an enigmatic feel which captivates the
‘Bang bang, my baby shot me down’
audience.
This is a contrast to a normal lovers relationship, keeping the audience interested and
captivated.
2. This shot is slightly high angle connoting the power and
Cowboy boots suggest ‘Bill’ is a ‘red-neck’,
status of this person. The close up shows detail like the
suggesting the type of character the person is. An
shadow which adds an enigmatic feel. Shadows are
enigma is created which builds tension and creates
commonly used in thrillers to create suspense and fear
fear of the unknown as the character’s identity is
of the unknown. Close ups are also a common feature
hidden.
in thrillers because they engage the audience with the
action allowing empathy.
Diegetic sound is created by the boots as ‘Bill’
walks which captivates the audience. A Tarantino uses shot-reverse-shot to build a relationship
relationship can be built between the character between ‘Bill’ and ‘The Bride’. This engages the audience
and the audience. and keeps them focused on the relationship.
3. Tarantino keeps the audience focused on the characters
‘The Bride’ flinches as ‘Bill’ gently wipes her face showing that she
through the continuous uses of close ups. This type of shot
fears ‘Bill’. Fear is extremely common in thrillers. Thrillers are
allows the audience to perceive detail for example the word
based around realism, revealing the darker side of humanity.
‘Bill’ on the handkerchief. This yet again, adds to the
enigmatic feel and links back to the title of the film; ‘Kill Bill’.
‘The Bride’s’ and ‘Bill’s’ relationship is continuously built up
throughout the scene. The diegetic sound of ‘Bill’ talking to ‘The
Bride’ about sadism engages the audience and injects fear.