Panic Room Analysis

Genre 

The Film ‘Panic Room’ Fits in to the genre Thriller. One of the ways that this is shown is through the music in the opening scene.

Genre(s): Thriller

director:  David Fincher

film cast:  Hayden Panettier, JaredLeto, Forest Whitaker, Jodie Foster

certificate:  TBC

distributor:  Sony Picture Intl

Camera Shot/Angle Movement 

The shots and angles in the opening sequence of ‘Panic Room’ consist mainly of establishing and long shots. This is done to set the scene and show the audience where the film is based. Panning and wide shots have also been mainly included in the opening scene to show the large scale of the city.

Sound

Non-diegetic  sound is played during the opening scene of ‘Panic Room’. The sound used helps to create a sense of mystery for the viewer. The non-diegetic sound is a conventional sound for a thriller movie because of the way that the tension and fear is created through the music.

Editing 

The editing in ‘Panic Room’ shows continuous shots including wide shots and panning shots of the setting one after the other. This is done to display the scale of the city that the film is taking place in.

Mise en Scene 

The Mise en scene of ‘Panic Room’ does not fit into the thriller genre. the shots show images of city life which is done by using cars, taxis and billboards. The lighting used is natural which makes the shots seem more realistic.        

Characters
In the opening scene the characters are anonymous. And there is no hint to any character in the film. The only thing that connects us as viewers to the characters is the setting which is where the characters may live. It gives us an insight into there lives.

Location

The Location is shown in all the shots in the opening scene and are displayed as establishing shots. The setting shown is in New York. We know this because of the use of yellow taxis and the huge towering building. This may represent that the setting is an important and main part of the film. Because it dominates the majority of the shots.

Themes

Themes that are shown within the opening of ‘Panic Room’ are mystery, as not allot is given away in the scene. Other Themes included within the scene are reality because the scene gives a huge isight in to life in New York. However it does not show the reality of a specific person  or family. By doing this the the theme of mystery is still remains. 

 Narrative Plot 

We do not get shown an insight into what the narrative plot is however the music, camera shots and Mise en scene help to  show the genre of the film as they are conventional to the genre of a thriller movie.  

However the general narrative of panic : The story tells of a divorcee and her daughter who are caught in a cat and mouse game in their new york brownstone. Three burglars invade their home in search of money, resulting in mother and daughter being forced to hide in the panic room.