Captain Colter Stevens is sent back in time to prevent a bombing on a train headed for Chicago. The film Source Code uses techniques common to thrillers like point of view shots, close ups, and quick cuts to build tension. Special effects are also used to depict violence and make the impossible scenario seem plausible. The opening scene depicts a tranquil setting that will soon be disrupted by the threat of explosions and violence, typical of the thriller genre.

2. Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle
Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
Director: Duncan Jones
Writer: Ben Ripley
Budget: $28,000,000
Opening Weekend: £1,306,661
Gross: $54,696,902
Run Time: 93mins
Country: USA/Canada
Released: 1st April 2011
Rated:12
Plot: Captain Colter Stevens (Jake) is on a
mission to identify a bomber on a train
headed for Chicago. However all is not what
it seems as he goes back in time into
someone else’s body to complete the
mission.

3. Throughout the extract they use a lot of
camera techniques to suite the genre of the
thriller. One of the most common techniques
is Point of View (pov) as it allows to see
from their perspective and get all up in the
action. Typical camera shots used in the
extract and all thriller films is the use of close
ups, mid shots and longshits. Close ups
allow the audience to see facial expressions
that show emotions of the characters, this
helps us relate to them. It’s also a great way
of emphasizing important and key objects.
Mid shots are used to show body positioning
between characters which gives the
audience an idea to what the characters
think of each other. Long shots are used to
show off the character like what he/she is
wearing and what their body language is like,
its also shows part of the environment
around them. This is also known as the
establishing shot.

4. During the opening scene of Source
Code the pace of the action steadily
increases, the use of quick
cuts/transitions makes this pace increase
clear which raises tension, therefor
making the audience anticipate that
something is going to happen.
CGI (computer generated imagery) is
also used in the extract which is typical of
thriller films as it shows off violence, and
it makes the impossible possible making
the film exciting and fun to watch. In
source code they make the sound of
certain objects very loud and other things
blurred, for example the ticking of the
bomb is made louder to make it more
dramatic and the blurring of the voices
makes it more confusing and
disorientating.

5. In the opening scene the setting Is very bright
which symbolizes tranquility, peace, and
beauty. A setting that is going to be changed
dramatically due to typical thriller story, e.g
explosions, guns and violence.
The train was headed for a large city, this is a
stereotypical setting for a thriller as it holds a
place where many people can be affected by
the crimes of the antagonist. Therefor making
the story have a bigger threat and danger.
Thriller movies are often set in cities however
they are often kept in particular areas, the train
restricts the area of action so we know the
protagonist is always in danger. They show
violence through the use of gun props and
bomb props.