Zodiac.

In the opening of Zodiac we are given a tracking shot of the car. This is then followed by the young couple taking a drive to a remote area. There is the use of diegetic sounds which include the car radio and the dialogue between the couple. A car then pulls up behind them before quickly taking off into the dark. There is then use of off screen sounds which is the car screetching and then speeding. From this we then see the car on screen of which it pulls up and a man gets out and shoots both of the couple. Throughout this opening scene there is use of low key lighting creating alot of shadows and portraying the dark night.

Brick.

In the opening of Brick we have soft music being played which creates a calm mood, we are the presented with an extreme close up of a boy which then shows an eye line match of him looking at a dead girl laying in some water. It creates a sad mood as there are uses of dissolves in order to continue the images. We are then presented with a flashback which the boy has of the girl. The sounds we hear include bells which suggest she was in school, it gives us the setting.

Memento.

In the opening of Memento we see a picture being shown of a dead person with blood, the scene follows by showing the events backwards. It is a good demonstration of confusion that the character feels as he struggles to remember events. The opening scene contains slow and dull sounds which creates a depressive mood of which the character may be experiencing. 

Preliminary task: evaluation.

Our preliminary task demonstrated continuity editing which we ensured we did not break the 180 degree rule. We included the shot reverse shot and an eye line match throughout.

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Suspense and shock.

Suspense is when the audience know something is happening, but the characters are unaware of it.

Shock is when something unexpected happens, both the audience and characters are unaware of what is about to follow.

Chuck Jones and the 'rules'.

Chuck Jones made the Road Runner cartoons and from the first episode, he made an elaborate set of rules which are:

1. The Road Runner cannot harm or upset the coyote except by going 'Meep! Meep!'
2. No outside force can harm the Coyote, only his own ineptitude or the failure of Acme Products.
3. The Coyote could stop anytime - if he were not a fanatic.
4. No dialogue ever, except 'Meep! Meep!'
5. The Road Runner must stay on the road - otherwise, logically, he would not be called the Road Runner.
6. All actions must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters - The Southwest American Desert.
7. All materials, tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from Acme Corporation.
8. Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy.
9. The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures.

History Of Violence.

In the opening of History Of Violence, we see a tracking shot of a car which pulls up outside of a house and he then exits his car and enters the house. While outside, in his car, there is use of high key lighting and it appears to be bright, natural daylight, the scene is filmed all in one camera shot. As he enters the house, the lighting becomes dark and low-key which creates shadows and shows a contrast. We then see more use of different camera angles. Non diegetic sounds are then introduced to show that something has happened and creates suspense. As he sees the two dead people, he is then interrupted by a little girl who is upset of what she has seen. He then pulls out a gun and shoots her.

Drive.

In the opening of Drive, the setting is in a room where a man makes a phone call warning that they will have five minutes only then he shall be gone. From the beginning of the film there is a heartbeat sound being played, which creates suspense. He then waits for two people who enter a building and make a robbery, he starts the time as they enter to make sure he does not go over the five minutes. While he waits for them, off screen sounds are played which are sirens of the police, this creates tension as the audience are unaware of when or if the police are going to arrive and catch them. They then drive off from the scene where they are involved in a police chase. He constantly has his radio broadcasting the basketball game in order to ensure he gets correct timing. As they manage to lose the police he drives his car into the car park of where the basketball game is being played. He then exits the car and manages to avoid the police as he got his timing accurate. Throughout the opening scene, there are many diegetic sounds being played which include the sound of the car engine. There is also the use of low-key lighting which creates lots of shadows.

Thriller conventions.

Every thriller will contain the following elements:

- Central to plot:
Justice vs injustice, blurred line of good and bad, enigmas, red-herrings, maguffin, plot twists and cliff hangers. These together are based on the plot but are used to distract the audience, which therefore creates more suspense when the main plot comes by.

- Sub-genres:
These are different genres that are used within the thriller genre, which include mystery, crime, psychological and political.

- Moods:
Different moods are created throughout the thriller. They create suspense and tension, which makes it a successful thriller. The moods which are created are murder, menace, mystery and paranoia.

-Complex characters:
The characters can be complex in order to make the thriller interesting and give it a strong plot. They may be troubled, multi-faceted or morally complex.

-Society:
The society within a thriller is seen as dark and corrupt.

Thrillers will also contain elements which will make the audience be on the edge of their seats, it will create tension, suspense and show a great climax, which all make them successful.