InsomniaFirst still – editing, titles fade in and out:

• Plain white background with black writing – dull and bleak colours used• The fading and the smudged words create mystery, which is used in thrillers• The black smudges could be linked with ink stains, as if something has gone

wrong

Second still – extreme close up of blood

• We do not know for sure what the background is – so there is a fear of the unknown, which is usual in thrillers – creates mystery

• White writing is on a red background, the red being blood, so death could be a theme in the movie

• Dark colours are used so doesn’t make the audience feel happy or calm etc

Third still – setting

• The opening is set in an isolate, desolate area, looks like it is in the middle of nowhere – feel unsafe

• Very sparse, no human activity, harsh environment, so a theme of mystery and disappearance becomes apparent

• Colours are bleak and dull – no colour change between titles and setting - white

Fourth still – over the shoulder shot of a mirror

• We are not shown exactly what he is doing so there is secrecy and mystery involved – involved in most thrillers

• Not a definite, clear shot – keeps the audience guessing through the movie and the thriller

• What is real through the mirror? Is it what we think? One main convention here is reality

Fifth still – extreme close up of eyes

• We see the panic look in his eyes and the emotions he’s going through – symbolic codes

• He is male, so we characterise him as most likely being a detective• What is he looking at? In thrillers we see the reactions but not what the

character sees – something we don’t know?

Sixth still – close up of props

• Looks like violence was endured – possibly murder, common themes in thrillers

• Audience don’t know what has happened – so we continue trying to figure out who it is and what has occurred

• Could be a detective or investigator who is looking at these photos – symbolic codes are used here

Seventh still – angle shot of props

• Article in newspaper, so event has occurred – homicide – typical theme in thrillers – symbolic codes

• Reading about event - an investigation is taking place• Audience don’t know what has happened – like a lot of thrillers

Eight still – plane entering the fog

• Fear of the unknown, a mystery. This theme occurs in most thrillers• Idea that we don’t know what’s real anymore and what we think might not be

the case• The blurred words links to the fog – what happens next?