Essex Boys

Title: Essex Boys
Director: Terry Winsor
Released: 2000

This opening shot determines location and surroundings. The ambient lighting is extremely dark, connoting a negative society. The long shot here enables to further identify environment and setting, in this case it is his garage. The wide shot of the garage emphasises shows how the character is alone and therefore presents the theme of isolation in both this shot and the film as a whole. The garage might be seen as a chlaustrophobic space creating the violent assumption of no escape. The technique is used in many other films such as in the toilets in 'Witness' and the shower in 'Psycho'.

The feeling of chlaustrophobia is reinforced here with the use of a close-up shot, as well as the shot being inside of a car. Billy's anxiety and panic is therefore further emphasised. His clothing is important in this shot. He is wearing a scruffy sweatshirt which highlights his normality as a character. The clear showing of his wristwatch highlights how time is an important factor in the film and suggest his urgency; time is a key theme of many thriller films and is especially important in films such as 'Heavenly creatures' and 'The Third Man'. The constant reminder of time in films not only suggests urgency from the characters point of view but also gives the audience the impression that they also should feel urgent and somewhat on edge - adding suspense to the experience of the film (an important and essential effect in thrillers).

This shot is juxtaposed with the previous in several ways. This character, Jason, stands tall as opposed to Billy in the previous shot who was 'scrunched up' in a car. Even the fact that he is outside of the car shows the contrast between the two characters. Jason appears free whereas Billy seems trapped. The clothing is also again essential in determining the status and authority of the two men. Jason is wearing a smart jacket and shirt which automatically gives the impression that he has superiority over his friend. This comparison of two male, dominant characters can be associated with the one we see in 'Jackie Brown' by Quentin Tarantino where Ordell and Louis are constantly compared to one another through several different conventions of the thriller genre.

This image is not very colourful - almost in black and white. This symbolises and correlates with the general feeling/mood in the film; it is mostly dark and miserable. The long shot of the tunnel and the vanishing point created resembles the barrel of a gun. This connotes violence and crime, which is a key theme in this play. It also forebodes negative ideas. We are lead to believe that if the men continue through this tunnel, they may suffer the consequence which could even be as serious as death.

This close-up shot allows us to identify with Billy's character. He looks slightly anxious, perhaps because he is worried where this journey might take him. There is a reflection of the lights from the top of the tunnel on to the windscreen of the car and the camera cuts to this. This shot gives the effect of prison bars over Billy's face. Dramatic irony is displayed here because it is foreshadowing the fact that perhaps Billy could soon be imprisoned, just as his friend Jason has been before. A similar technique is used by Quentin Tarantino in his film, 'Jackie Brown'. In this film, rails by a sidewalk are used within a pan shot to create a similar effect. See this shot here http://charlieclarkemedia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/jackie-brown.html