Looking into Thriller #1

The film i've chosen to look into for the thriller genre is 'Abduction' starring Taylor Lautner and Lily Collins. 

At the opening we are given many impressions about the characters shown's life. We immediately hear strong 'screamo' rock music blaring from the car radio (which is diagetic sound) with a teenage boy sitting and leaning on the windscreen on the outside of the car as it travels at high speed.

The 3 boys all seem to be having fun, with Taylor's character shouting at the driver to 'go faster' as he shows his excitement by screaming and 'woo'ing. As the driver is shouted at to go faster we are shown close up shots of him putting his foot down on the accelerator and the speed meter getting closer and closer to the highest number. All of this tells us a lot about the characters, particularly Nathan (Taylor), who is sat in the most dangerous position of all. It tells us that he is daring and possibly careless about his life, not valuing it enough in order to be as reckless as that which suggests something could be occurring in his life that he would like to escape from.

We see they are arriving at a party and as they arrive Nathan's friends tell him he is crazy, to which he responds with 'yes I am'.

This film opening fits with the genre as a thriller usually involves lots of excitement which can almost be negative and dangerous. I think the way the film has been put together is fitting with the genre as particularly the way it opens, isn't hugely intense - it just sets the scene with the overhead shot looking down at the car and the loud music blaring, showing regular teenagers, however as the opening unravels and we see a little glimpse of Nathan's discomfort we see there will be more to the film than we think.

I think opening with music that fits with the scene is also a clever idea as people connect to music and can immediately know what the overall feel may be, for example if slow and sad music played, the audience would immediately know the overall theme for the film could be heartbreak.

In this opening I liked the music being the first thing the audience heard, I also liked that the dialogue fits with the opening atmosphere of danger and craziness. One thing I wasn't 100% keen on was that i don't feel enough of the plot was revealed, in the opening all we really see is 3 wild teenage boys and a party, there doesn't seem to be much of a deeper meaning and the opening is the most important few minutes to engage the audience and I don't think this particular opening was entirely engaging. It also goes to show how important the movie title is, because if I didn't know the film would be as intense as an abduction I most likely would have turned it off. I do, however, like the excitement behind it and the element of danger and that something could go wrong, because films that aren't entirely a thriller based genre can include them to an extent and I think this can be used to enhance emotions to make a film more dramatic.

A brief plot synopsis idea for a film in this genre

Alex, a 37 year old divorced spy, is a father of 2 and when he sees that his ex wife's fiancé is on the run and planning to bring the entire family down with him, there is nothing he will not do to ensure he restores his loved ones safety. Lies and truths will out, danger looms however love will conquer.