No country for old men analysis

Setting
'No country for old men' is set in an abandoned and isolated area; far from society. The place being rural and deserted is a commonly seen convention of thriller films as it puts the characters in a difficult situation. It seems very empty creating a sense of nowhere to hide when in need to escape from the killer. This conveys the idea of helplessness and vulnerability of the characters who risk death by either running away and struggling to survive due to heat and lack of water or staying and risking the killer's attempt to kill them.

Camera work

The setting is set through the use of an establishing shot which allows the audience to see the vast and open land. This presents the location of the scene which allows the viewer's realisation of where the scene is taking place and its disadvantages for the character in danger.A close up shot is also used;having a great impact on the shot. It shows the villain's face in detail allowing the audience to see his lack of sanity. This is a conventional element used in thrillers as it enables the audience to see facial expressions,almost creating a connection between them and the character.

Editing


A voice over is heard at the beginning, informing the audience of the events. This however is rarely used in thriller films as it is not seen as a convention. Editing which is seen as a convention and can be seen in the scene is the use of CGI. This emphasizes actions such as the man getting shot adding intensity to the scene and so delivering a shock to the viewer.


Character and costume


The officer being dressed in a uniform shows his power and authority. However his power is overthrown by the villain. The villain himself is unconventional to the thriller genre due to his lack of disguise . Unlike black clothing commonly seen, the villain is wearing normal clothing portraying him to be a typical being.His tone of voice furtherly emphasizes this idea as it is calm and polite.


Carrying out this research has enabled me to understand how important all of the elements mentioned above are. I will use the knowledge I have gained by analysing this particular opening when planning out my own thriller opening.