Se7en Analysis

In class we watched a short clip from the thriller film "Se7en" and made notes about the Micro- Elements used.

Mise-en-Scene
There is a scene in a house with a dead body lying on the floor, the lighting is very dark and gloomy. When the detectives go outside the house it is raining and the lighting is very grey and dull. This type of lighting is very typical of a Thriller film, even when it may not be night time in the scene, the lighting is still dark.

The clip starts with a man in a very ordinary flat or house getting dressed. The next scene he is in a very dirty and shabby house where there is a dead body lying on the floor. The characters played by Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt are detectives and are looking around this house as it is clear a crime has taken place. Thriller films are known for being set around a crime so again this film meets a convention.

The character played by Morgan Freeman is dressed smartly in a suit with a black tie. The character played by Brad Pitt is also in a shirt and tie however is in a leather jacket which makes him look slightly less important and more
youthful.

Sound

Camera Angles and Movement
In the short clip we watched there were many camera shots used. These shots included the over the shoulder shot which gave the audience a sense of being in the position of the character and therefore can relate to them. This is a convention in a thriller film. There were many close ups in the short clip which shows the characters emotion. A medium shot was used in the scene; this allows the audience to see the character in shot and their surroundings as well. When the detectives are walking down the path in the rain a tracking shot is used which follows the characters. This makes the audience feel part of the conversation when the camera follows them. A low angle shot is also used - this shows that they are important figures in the film as the shot gives them dominance. It also portrays them to be the protagonist characters. When the detective is in the bedroom their is a long shot. This shot shows us the whole bedroom and the character laying in bed. We can see what is going on in the scene. A close up is then used on a ticking metronome which gives the character something to listen to when trying to get to sleep so he can focus his mind. This detail gives the audience an insight into the characters personality.

Editing

The editing in the opening titles of the film was very fast paced which indicates to what the film is going to be like - a fast paced thriller film.