Essex Boys

Case Study 3

Background Information

• Essex Boys (2000) was directed by Terry Winsor.

• It stars: Charlie Creed-Miles, Sean Bean, Gareth Milne, Alex Kingston, Tom Wilkinson.

• It’s a Thriller film set in Essex, based on a true event from 1995.

• FUN FACT: This film was distributed by the same company as Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2. (Miramax). The first indication that this film maybe a “textbook” Thriller.

Locations

• This film starts off in a garage (A). Garages are enclosed and isolated places. This may be hinting that this is a dangerous place, there is one way in and one way out.

• Other examples of enclosed places in the opening of this film includes a tunnel (B) and the white van where Jason’s first victim is kept. (C)

• The most poignant location in the opening to this Thriller is the scene on the Essex Marshes (D) . As well as being a cultural signifier, the landscape is very isolated and features one single road through it. This is a metaphor for Jason’s personality because he has a focused, predator-like one track mind. (E) It also suggests Jason has no boundaries like the marshes themselves.

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

Links to Thriller conventions: Locations

• Enclosed places are common features of the Thriller genre. They connote imprisonment and entrapment. Other examples of enclosed spaces in Thrillers can be seen in Jackie Brown (Beaumont in the car boot) and in Kill Bill Vol.2 ( The Bride buried alive).

Lighting

• Another way the genre of Noir Thrillers is established is with the use of the classic white on black titles (F). White on Black titles can also be seen in two other Thrillers: Se7en (G) and No Country for Old men (H).

• Later, when Billy has just picked up Jason Locke, we can see the reflection of lights in front of Billy that look similar to jail bars (I). This could be an example of foreshadowing.

(G)

(F)

(H)

(I)

Sound

• The first 40 seconds of the scene features just diegetic sound. This is a common convention of the Thriller genre as diegetic sound adds suspense and creates tension, similarly to the intro of “Once Upon a Time in America.” Diegetic sound is also used to add a sense of realism.

• A narrator is added which lets the audience relate more to the character and position themselves with them. (J) This could be argued as a convention of Thrillers as it is also seen in the opening of the Thriller film L.A Confidential. (K)

(J)

(K)

• The opening to this film features an unmarked White Van (L). This is a common convention of the Thriller genre but winsor uses it in a unique way. Normally, unmarked, white vans are used in Thriller films to create a sense of enigma and danger because the audience are unsure what's in it and the potential of risk. In this film however it is used, like previously mentioned, to create a sense of entrapment for the victim.

• Jason is wearing a flamboyant yellow shirt and a leather jacket (M). The yellow shirt really makes Jason stand out compared to every one else on screen. All the other characters in this scene are wearing bland colours (whites, blacks and greys) including Billy, Jason's Victim and the Fish factory workers. (N)

• Jason's leather jacket symbolises that Jason is a rebel and possibly unsafe.

Props & Costume

(M)

(L)

(N)

Cultural Signifiers

• Cultural Signifiers in this opening include:

• Essex accent - “I’ll try anything once me”• ‘Welcome To Essex Sign’ (O) • Dartford Tunnel (P)• Essex Marshes. (Q)

(O)

(P)

(Q)

Camera Shots•We can see several examples of different shots in the opening to Essex Boys (2000)•One of the more interesting shots used is a P.O.V shot from the perspective of Billy. This puts the audience in the position of Billy and makes the Character of Jason more intimidating (R). P.O.V. shots are commonly used in Thrillers because often they can be used to intensify a seen. It puts the audience directly into the action. For example if a gun was pointed at a character, the director could use a P.O.V shot to make it feel like the gun is pointed at the audience. This example can be seen in the 1948 Film Noir: “Force of Evil.(S).

(R)

(S)

Camera Shots 2•The first time we’re introduced to Jason we see him through a muddy window (T). This suggests about the character of Jason that he may not be what we first expect. Whats more, it implies that Jason is rugged and threatening. •Another very interesting shot in the opening to this film is the shot of the dartford tunnel (Q). We cannot see the end of the tunnel which is a metaphor for Billy’s outlook of Jason and what he's got himself into. He is unsure of the outcome of him “driving Jason around” and it remains a mystery to him and the audience. In addition it could also suggest that now that Billy is getting involved with criminals he may never leave this life behind and his relationship with crime is never ending/ not ending in the foreseeable future. Lastly, this poignant shot of the Dartford Tunnel could be seen as looking down the barrel of a gun, creating an enigma as to if gun crime becomes involved in this Thriller. Guns are very common conventions of Thriller films.

(T)

(Q)