Genre Deconstruction- Drama Thriller

Genre Deconstruction- Drama, Thriller

The Machinist (2005)

Typography

The font used for the opening titles is an all capitals and is similar to the font ‘Bank Gothic’. The font itself is very professional and is often used in drama and thriller films. It is very even and symmetrical and has a geometric typeface. Originally made in the 1930’s the font itself has been used for several popular TV shows, movies and games (It has been used in films like ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Clash of the Titans’ and ‘Knowing’.)

The effect of this font in the film is subtle but as the first scene is at a tilt the typography is as well. It almost has a mundane, monotone appearance that fits in with the scene. Its geometric typeface is effective as the text fade in and out of focus on screen. The use of all capital text is common in drama genres as it contrasts to the events happening on screen. The use of symmetrical fonts shows divergence as it is so different from the often twisted events taking place.

Location

The location on the opening scene is split between three places; a bedroom, riverside and a darkly lit room with a mirror.

Locations for dramas can vary, the idea of locality is a running theme though. This convention is conformed to in this opening scene as there are only two big locations. His house and the riverside. The urban location of the riverside is unknown but it is safe to assume that it is on the outskirts of a city as the concrete banks and large wooden structure going into the water are not found in suburban areas or rural areas.

The first scene is set in the protagonist’s bedroom; the camera is looking in through the window of the room at a tilt. The glass it looks through is reflecting the lights of the city his apartment seems to look over, this urban setting is often found in drama films as more serious ‘real- life’ situations are likely to take place.

The use of the riverside is effective as, in other films, this run down area is often used for crime related scenes. Crime is a subgenre of drama so its use is conventional in the film. The location itself is run down and deserted, this gives ideas of urban drama themes. The scene lends itself the drama conventions.

The final location is in a darkly lit room. This helps develop the idea of an inner conflict that the film will be based around. Not much of the room is shown but a small circular mirror is features. The protagonist is looking into this mirror.

Plot

The opening scene starts with a tilted camera looking through the window of the protagonist’s bedroom. We keep the same camera position looking through the window as the titles come up on the right side of the screen. The window is not clear giving the audience an obstructed view of what is happening in the room. We can see lights reflected in the window.

The character shown is seen pushing something along the floor crouched over, he is breathing heavily as though the object is heavy. The man turns around and slowly takes something from a draw, putting it in his mouth and walking towards the window where you can see he has a cigarette. His face becomes clear in the window, bruised and hurt as though someone had hit him several times. He lights the cigarette.

The scene changes to a riverside with a large wooden structure going out into the water, a rusty sign can be seen with unreadable writing and grass verges covered in litter and rubble are seen.

The man pulls up in a truck, before getting out and taking the back down, grasping for something in the space. He takes the object out which you realise is the one he was rolling earlier in the scene.

The angle changes to a close up of the protagonists face who is evidently struggling as he walks with the large object on his shoulder, the angle lets the audience discover that he is carrying a body wrapped in a carpet. The character is struggling with the weight and he stumbles to the waters concrete banks.

After reaching the steep banks you see him turn to see a torchlight over his shoulder.

In a panic he throws the body but it doesn’t make the water.

Checking over his shoulder you see the torchlight growing, the protagonist panics and kicks the body to try and roll it down into the water but instead you see the carpet unravel and off screen the body is revealed.

A reaction shot uncovers the protagonists shock as the body is shown and then the words ‘Who are you?’ are heard, the torchlight making the man cover his eyes at the person behind it stands close.

The scene changes to a dimly lit room. The central character washing his hands with bleach as fast breathing is heard.

The camera changes so a different depth is shown, the man’s figure becomes blurry behind the image of a torch.

Changing back to focus on the man you see him slowly look into the mirror, his face showing shock and disbelief as he sees something behind him as he turns around the image changes.

A post it note is stuck on the wall behind him. The words ‘who are you?’ printed boldly onto the yellow paper.

Conventions

Common conventions of a drama film involve ideas of some sort of major conflict whether it’s an inner struggle or a physical problem between two or more people. This film opening suggests ideas of issues that the protagonist may have, conforming to this common convention. It is unclear as to whether his problems are physical or emotional as the footage of the dead body can be taken as either idea. The thriller subgenre suggested is also misleading as it can be used in films where serial killers are escaping the law or mentally unstable people are in arguments with themselves.

Drama films are also known for moving the audience emotionally. This is not clear from this opening sequence but the idea of a dead body and an unknown character can be taken into account throughout the film.

The film opening subverts from ideas of the audience relating to the storyline. The plot of the protagonist carrying the dead body to the shoreline is untreatable to most pedestrians.

Lighting
At the start of the first scene the screen brightens from complete black out to a faded, dark image. The lack of lighting lets the audience know that its night in the scene as well as helping to distort the image making the view obstructed. This adds tension to the scene as the viewers try to decipher what is happening. The lighting doesn’t change throughout the first location.

As the scene changes, the time of day stays the same and the lighting is still low and the image is still slightly unclear, this is continued throughout the rest of the film’s opening, the only part where the lighting diverges is when torchlight is seen. This creates a harsh contrast as the light is so bright compared to the accustomed to darkness that the audience is taken aback by the brightness.

The lighting throughout the opening scene is dark. This helps create an almost incomplete scene as the audience don’t know what is happening in the darkness. It also fits in with the conventional ideas of ‘low key lighting’ in a thriller film.

Camera Angles
The camera starts at a tilt, the angle itself giving ideas of unstableness and uncertainty. The latter belonging to the audience as they try to figure out the events happening in the scene. The idea of the film starting at a tilt is effective as it already creates an uncertain view in the film, the angle creating unsureness and some ideas of incompleteness fitting in with the conventions of a thriller as it follows that unexpected camera angle idea.

By including close up of the protagonists face you can see the emotion and the struggle clearly, this creates a sense of urgency when the over the shoulder shot of the torchlight is seen. Its use is effective as you feel for the protagonist and his inner and outer struggle is so visible.

Sound

0:00-0:10
Only the diegetic sounds of heavy breathing can be heard, a slight static in the background.

0:11-0:50
The beginning of the score is heard, low strings are used for a haunted effect, the slight sound effective as it has a slight reminiscence of a rain. This continues layered with the continued sound of the main characters breathing as the strings go in turn as low and high in pitch.

0:51- 1:15
The strings continue but with a few notes of a high pitched piano at the start and end paired with the diegetic sounds of the protagonists lighter clicking open and closed.

1:16- 2:48

The core continues but the piano is dotted throughout the strings and not strategically placed giving ideas on uncertainty and helping to build the tension. Diagetic sounds of the character’s ruck and the water by the riverside is also heard louder than the score giving it presidency in the scene.

2:49-2:51

The only lines of dialogue are spoken in a harsh voice ‘Who are you?’

2:52-3:03

The score has paused whilst the character’s reaction to the dialogue is shown, the only sounds heard are his breathing that the water.

3:04-3:40

A low bass sound can be heard, the diegetic sound of the tap running accompanies it, this and the next images help create a complex web for the viewer as a flashlight is show as well as the only dialogue in the scene ‘who are you?’ is written down.

3:41-4:00

Echoing high pitched piano notes are heard as the scene ends, a few low pitched strings are heard but they are low key in the scene.