By Jasmine Pearson


Analyzing Strangers
The first thing most people are likely to notice that gives them an indication of the films genre of thriller is the colours used. There are no bright colours, suggesting the film is sad or sinister, in this case sinister. Also the top, bottom and background of the cover are dark and the room is dimly lit, which reveals the movie is going to keep you in the unknown guessing and on edge, which is a reflection of its thriller genre.

The images used are also very suggestive at telling you what genre the film is. The woman in the foregrounds expression and body language suggests suspicion and fright, which are key features of a thriller genre. This also makes you wonder why she feels like this and intrigues its audience. The figure in the background is partially in darkness which reveals the character is shady and scary. He is also wearing a mask which frightens people when a person’s identity is secreted because they do not know what type of person is hiding underneath. This as well as the fact that the woman has no idea the figure is watching her from behind expose the thriller genre of the film.

The font used for the main title is slightly distorted/blurred which implies there is something out of the ordinary going to happen in the film. This also makes the film genre of thriller known easily because as with a distorted/blurred image, it is not easily recognisable what it is, and the not knowing scares people.

The slogan at the top of the cover mentions the word fear which instantly gives the thriller genre away. The riddle format of the slogan is often found in other thriller films, because the riddles make peoples minds think and scare themselves by thinking of the worst possible meanings. The text inspired by true events at the bottom of the cover also gives away the film genre because it suggests it is some unusual/scary event or else it would not be worth mentioning it was inspired by true life.

The film rating on the back of the dvd also tells the audience that the film genre is either a thriller of horror genre. There are words in the films synopsis on the back of the dvd that are easily picked out that relate to the thriller genre. ‘Horrifying’ and ‘haunting’ are the best examples, as well as ending on script and a question which keeps the audience guessing whats going to happen and giving in sight into the film.