Thriller Film Notes

The Dark Knight – 2008

Screen 1:  1^st image of the film, opening up to a setting, in a built up city with the tops of skyscrapers. Most probably taken from a helicopter.
Camera – long shot, view of skyscrapers, zooming in on a particular building.

Editing – 

Sound – sinister music, a boom of a drum as it opens to the shot

Mise-en-scene – skyscrapers, glass front buildings, connotations of early morning or early evening with the low sunshine.

Screen 2: after bank robbery in the safe.
Camera – close up, face and shoulders, surrounding background.

Mise-en-scene – Christian Bale, batman in his gear, his face covered, element of questioning as cannot see all of his face so who is he? Large door open for the safe.

Sound – no sound apart from talking

Screen 3: talking to other bandits in a room almost like a kitchen

Camera – close up, face and shoulders, background out of focus, character in focus
Mise-en-scene – Heath ledger as the joker, the background has connotations of a kitchen ( shiny silver cabinets, ‘U’ shaped counters) the joker in his iconic purple suit, green hair and clown like face paint, blacked out eyes, red stretched out smile, white face.
Sound – only talking, his voice is sinister, nasal.

Screen 4: Harvey Dent in hospital scene first look at his face after his accident.

Camera – close up, face and shoulders, pillow behind his head
Mise-en-scene – Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, half his face has been burnt, bones, and muscle on show, charred skin, connotations of pain as his eye on the side of his face is slightly squinted.

Editing – most probably computer graphics to edit the side of his face that has been burnt to show the damage and have an effect on the audience watching as it shocks them with the damage.

Sound – hospital noises and talking

Screen 5: Joker leaving the hospital with explosions going off behind him.

Camera – medium shot, half body, lots of background, and main focus on Joker.

Mise-en-scene – Heath Ledger, Joker dressed in nurse’s uniform holding detonator device, hospital scene in background with cars, usual face paint.

Editing – Explosions going off inside hospital, smoke coming off the building from explosions, sparks and fire flying from the building.

Sound – Explosions, rubble hitting the ground and screams.