Memento, 15

Memento is a thriller film which includes all of the conventions of a typical thriller film. These things are the use of cinematography, sound, editing and mise-en-scene. Another crucial element that a thriller film must do is make us ask questions when we are watching the opening sequence. They hide information.

Cinematography:

• Close ups of the crime scene to hide information of the surroundings
• Close ups of the weapons
• In the opening sequence the main types of shots that we see are close ups. The reason for this is because they want to make the audience ask questions about what is going on.
• Camera shots vary so that the audience are intrigued into the movie and what to know more.

Sound:

• Eerie music being played within the titles
• The bed of music in the background builds up tension to get the audience engaged into the screen
• The music that we here being played gives off a sense of sadness
• Hyperbolic sounds

Editing:

• We are shown the opening sequence in reverse order
• This is typical of most thrillers because they try and confuse and twist the minds of the audience
• Black out when the man gets shot. Unexpected.

Mise-en-scene:

• The picture that the man is holding is slightly tilted
• This could represent that something is not right
• This could then relate to the person holding the picture that something could not be right about him and later on in the film we find out that he has an illness
• The blood dripping down the walls shows violence

What questions does the opening sequence make us ask?

1. There is blood on the floor but how did it get there?
2. What the picture is that he is holding?
3. Why is the opening sequence in reverse order?
4. Why did he kill the man?
5. Who is he?