Photo of a thriller set.

This is a photo of a town I believe a thriller could be set in.I have chosen this setting as it is a town with a lot of money and businesses meaning the main character (protagonist), most likely to be a detective or business worker, could work and live here and it could also home the antagonist and there secret associations.  Furthermore the parts in the town are very isolated which is a feature of the thriller genre setting.

Iconography college of thrillers.

What makes a thriller?

This show notes and ideas on what makes a thriller.

Shutter Island Spoiler.

The movie set in 1954 begins as two US marchels Teddy Daniels (Leoanardo DiCapro) and Chuck Aile (Mark Ruffalo) are on a ferry in Boston Harbor on the way to Shutter Island to investigate a missing women on the island which is home to a mental institution the day before, it is clear that this is the job Teddy has wanted for a long time.
The conversation between the two men shows Teddy in Chucks superior as he refers to him always as "Boss"which also infers that Teddy is well known in his job. During the conversation we also learn that Teddy is still mourning the loss of his wife seven months ago due to an arsonist attack on his building but a man called Laddias.
Once on the island the captain stated that a storm is coming to the island, which Teddy hears but does not fully 
understand the real meaning behind it.

The two men then meet the deputy warden McPherson who takes them to the mental hospital grounds and explains the lay out, of men in building A, females in building B and on the highest point of the island is building C where the most dangerous insane people are, the pair are told never under any circumstances should they go in there unless accompanied but the doctors.
Then as the men are about to enter the hospital they are told they have to surrender their fire arms or they can not come in, which Teddy protests to but reluctantly agrees after an argument. The doctor then introduces him self as Dr Cawley and explain what they do on Shutter Island and how they help the patents, when Teddy come down with a head ache which the Dr quickly gives him medicine for. Dr Cawley then tell the men Rachel's story of how he killed her three children but refuses to believe it and believes the island is her home and the guards are part of her normal life and she refuses to believe she is mentally ill. 

The tour then takes then to the light house which they are not allowed to go inside as it is guarded by wardens which Teddy finds odd to say the least.
Teddy then goes to Rachel's cells where he finds a notes saying Wheres number 67?". Teddy and Chuck interviews staff but get no where until he finds a doctor Sheehen left to go on holiday the morning of Rachel's disappearance...
That night Chuck and Teddy go to Dr Cawleys mansion to have a cigar and drink, they also meet Dr Naehring and after hearing his German accent Teddy takes and instant dislike to him. The evening ends in an argument where Teddy storms out.
The storm hits the island the next day so the ferry's are no where to be seen.
Teddy and Chuck begin interviewing the patents as he has not been allowed the doctors documents. It seems he is coming to a dead end as it appears they all seem to be following a script , until a women grabs Teddy notebook and scrolls in it RUN! 

The two men became paranoid and debate, when McPherson arrives to take them back into the hospital. Soaked through they are given whites to wear and told their suits will be given back in a day or two and are also given cigars.
They then go to Dr Cawleys office and argue briefly  when Teddy come down with the headache again and reluctantly takes more tablets for the doctor and race down to the basement to shelter from the hurricane. While Teddy sleeps he dreams about his wife who tells him Rachel is on the island and need his help, he also sees Laddias sitting in a chair with a horrible scar running from his right eye to his left chin.
After the storm the power the next day cuts out meaning all the inmates are loose turning the island in to chaos. Taking their chance the two go to building C where a patent attacks Teddy who attacks him back, who is then stopped by warden and taken back to his cell.
While wandering Teddy come across a man in a row of empty cells, and demands the man turns and show his face. As the man turns she see's it is George Noyce, a former patent who told him about the island. He tells Teddy Laddias is in the light house where they plan to do experiments on him.

Ted catches up with Chuck and Dr Cawley who says they have found Rachel and takes Teddy to see her in her cell, while they are there Rachel believes Ted is her dead husband and starts screaming at him.
They leave and Teddy is determined to enter the light house and argues with Chuck who is determined to stop him. Teddy ignores him and tries anyway but fails. On his way back he see's a light in a cave and goes in investigate. Once in the cave he meets a women who claim to be the real Rachel and tell Teddy what they are really doing on the island, by drugging people to create strong spy's and soldiers who do not feel pain or remember. She also says that Chuck is a government agent sent to look out for Teddy and not to take any of their drugs or cigars which he has and is starting to get the symptoms of their control over him. She then tells him they will now hes here never let him leave.
The warden then comes and takes Teddy back to the hospital, where he confronts Dr Cawley and demands to know where Chuck has gone. Cawley continues the mind tricks by stating he came to the island alone. Confused and angry he leaves and sees his wife who tells him to not go up to the light house as it will destroy  him.

To create a diversion he blows up the Dr car and runs to the light house.
Once at the top to sees Dr Cawley sitting behind a desk.....
Dr Cawley begins to explain he is a patient at the hospital and has been for years, Teddy refuses to believe him. Cawley says he was one until he broke down when his kids and wife were killed and was sent here. Teddy still refusing to accept the news is told he is one of the most dangerous patients they have so the staff decided to do a mass role play to get him to realize the truth.
Teddy is then face to face with Dr Sheehan who is Chuck! He explains he is his psychiatrist who played along to keep tabs on him. 
Dr Cawley then say that Teddy is Laddias  and show him the anagram in which Teddy Daniels is contracted, then explains that he attacked Noyce and is the reason he has the scar as he call Teddy by his real name.
Cawley then say he erased his memory of things he did wrong in a attempt to make him a hero.Which triggers a flash back of Teddy former life and the death of his children and how he shot his wife.

Teddy now realizes he can accept the truth or carry on to deny it. Cawley states if he can accept it he will be lobotomized. Teddy then admits he blames him self for the kids death and for  not getting his wife help and for creating the fantasy to help himself recover.
The next day he and Dr Shaheen are sitting on the steps of the hospital, where Teddy asks Chuck if its better to live as a monster or die as a good man, when he stands willingly and go with the doctors to get a lobotomy.
So is Teddy  sane or just another goverment experiment...?

Overall I enjoyed the film as throughout as the audience I was on the edge of my seat guessing about Rachel and all the unanswered questions given to the audience. The twist at the end of Teddy being the patient at Shutter Island after he went insane after his wife drowned their three children and the 'investigation' was just a mass role play to let his finally accept what happened or is it? The ambiguous ending I loved but at the same time hated as it is open to interpretation but I just wanted to know the truth!
Out of 10 I will give Shutter Island a 8. A brilliant thriller film.

SE7EN Slates

0.02 -  0.06
The company behind the making of the film always comes first in the  opening sequence as they are the most important i making the film. 

0.09 - 0.11
This is the first slate with an eerie image of the hand on it with scrawled hand writing front over the top, the dark lighting effect on top is also associated with thrillers as this slate creates a mystery as you do not understand the image.    

0.13 - 0.16

0.18 - 0.20

0.23 - 0.28
In having the title at the top right hand corner of the slate and the V in "seven" being replaced with the number 7 it sets up the story as it emphases the people and story are not going to be expected or straight forward there is going to be something very strange.

0.30 - 0.32

0.33 - 0.35

0.38 - 0.40

0.41 - 0.42

0.46 - 0.48

0.53 - 0.55

0.57  -  0.59

1.04 - 1.06

1.10 - 1.13
The red effect used on this slate could have been used to show the audience of the film there is going to be death and danger if you continue to watch, thrilling the audience.

1.17 - 1.19

1.21 - 1.23

1.23 - 1.24

1.25 - 1.28

1.34 - 1.36

1.40 - 1.42

1.43 - 1.46

1.50 - 1.52

1.53 - 1.55

1.59 - 2.05

Opening sequences are essential to any film made not just the thriller genre. The point of the slates like as seen above are to set up the pace and story of the films created world the audience is just about to enter. Opening sequences are usually an annoyance to the director as they have to be put in due to legal reasons with the actors and workers in their contracts to say that specifically the main most well known actors will not share slates but demand one each  at the start of the sequence. Others such as directer, music, casting, producer and production company are also given slates as shown above in the Se7en slates. The complication come to the directer as he/she needs at least 20-25 slates per opening, which need to be shown in a interesting way which sets up the story to the audience without boring them. 

The whole picture?

From the women's erratic expression it suggests she has an emotional attachment to either the man or baby. however, as she is running and looks panicked this infers that she is possibly a mother who feels she needs to protect the baby, highlighted through the fact she is running towards the baby.

He is first visualized as being the supposed villain however the man looks as though he is protecting the baby as his arms are wrapped tightly around it in a protective manner.  His smart outfit implies he is an educated man suggesting he could be a detective and on the side of the police, meaning the baby could be taken away for protective purposes.

From look of what the women with her back to her camera is wearing she loose as though she is a police women. the police women is facing the lady running , which suggests she is stopping the women form getting the baby. implying she is on the same side as the man with the baby.

What makes a thriller? Film Comparison.

There is no exact formula to a thriller film other then good story features such as an exciting plot riding to a dramatic confrontation between the protagonist, usually a detective or business man, and antagonist, usually government and secret organisation which is usually on the antagonists territory which are then defeated  leading to a wrap up to complete the story so it is not to be in finished. Thrillers are filled with mystery and suspense and twists and turns, if the film does not do this then it can not be even thought of as a thriller. The plots of thrillers are usually life or death issues, which include murder and a form of justice and injustice, which is clear for the audience to see, which put the protagonist and the public in serious danger as the antagonist in thrillers have seriously malicious characteristics. The basic plots used frequently are "Whodonits?" where the audience does not know who is the "catch me before I kill again" until the end and , in films such as Jaws, in th know where though out the audience knows who or what it is, both work to great effects. Like other film genres there are many categories for the thriller genre, these include: Action, psychology, military, spy, horror, sci-fi and romantic. All however have a great sense of dramatic action, cinematic landscapes and settings and interior mind scales (memories). The puzzles used by the antagonist for the protagonist have the fast paced, create a sense of danger, have an element of thrill and excitement, twists and turns through events and conflicts where both sides have a balance of power, to create the thrill as the pro and antagonist are neck and neck so their characters grow until the end, when the antagonist is stopped and defeated.    Interception, V For Vendetta and Shutter Island are all examples of the thriller genre, with V For Vendetta and Shutter Island being psychological thrillers and Interception being a sci- fi thriller. Although they are different in genre categories the audience expectations are usually all the same. The audience of thrillers expect a thrill and excitement when watching the genre, with no bad chessey acting to spoil the mood and tension of the fast paced movie, also no cheep special effects which also ruins the illusion for the audience making the created world lost which means the audience will more then likely stop watching makings the film unsuccessful in its aim. Interception is a fim based on dreams and the mind which makes its a psychological thriller like V For Vendetta which is set in years in the future after the world has had a nuclear bomb war, leaving to be able to tightly control it's people to do what ever they wish such as get rid of the people they believe to be undesirable through concentration camps. The protagonist V who wears a Guy Fawkes mask to hide his identity with he help of Evey get the public to rise up against there government by asking the people to come to the houses of parliament on the 5th of November with he promises to blow up and rid them of the evil Goverment party.The two go in to hiding until the date only in secret going out to kill the party leaders. The plots ends by Evey sending a London tube to blow up parliament carting a deceased V which goes on the blow up parliament and Big Ben as Evey looks on and quotes "he was all of us". Shutter Island is set in 1954 with a US marchal Teddy Daneils assigned to investigate the disappearance of a pairent form Boatons Shutter Island hospital, which he had been hoping and pussing to get for personal reasons however after a while he he believes he was asked to take the case as part of a twisted plan by the doctors of the hospital who use sinister, illegal treatments. Teddy finally gets a lead only to be stopped by the hospital who refuse to give him patient records, the worst comes when a hurricane cuts off main land communication and allows more dangerous criminals to 'escape'  and the clues multiply and Teddy begins to question everything in his life and his sanity. The ending is ambiguous to many people and very clear to others, this is so the audience can have a say and feel involved in what has happened to the characters so they feel they are in the know including the audience in the story, making a connection between the two.