Intro to Modern Thrillers

Welcome back Examiner!
In this post I will be analysing the opening scenes for four different films in order to explain the vital (and non vital) elements of a modern thriller. Thriller genre films are films that use suspense, tension and excitement as it's main sources of attraction. Modern thrillers are thrillers that extensively borrow elements pionnered by hollywood veterans Alfred Hitchcock and Fritz Lang. Modern thrillers also tend to contain heavy action to propel the excitement.
The four movies I will be assessing are;
- A History of Violence
-Zodiac
-Brick
-No Country for Old Men

A History of Violence
'A History of Violence' is a crime film directed by David Cronenberg starring Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall, seemingly regular restaurant owner whose life is turned upside-down when his criminal past is brought to light.

A history of violence
Slow paced, tension filled first scene
2 Characters - One wearing white with lacks writing other wearing all black = Suggests binary opposites
Dark Mis En Scene

Zodiac
Slow paced
Panned camera shows setting
Sets the tone for the beginning (The State of Equilibrium)

Brick

No Country for Old Men
Starts off dark ends light