The Usual Suspects - Textual Analysis - Callum Horncastle

 Callum Horncastle - Textual Analysis

The extract from The Usual Suspects constructs the style of a thriller using Mise En Scene, Camerawork, Editing and Sound.
The beginning scenes with the first man sitting on the ground, lighting a cigarette. The whole setting is very dark, the main source of light is from the cigarette itself, this shrouds the entire area with a gloomy place with the uncertainty of whom else might be lurking in the shadows.

The shots are eye-level and high angles, looking down on this character, showing that he is most likely to be a victim of some sort. The ambient sounds bring more uncertainty to the scene, as it’s awfully quiet, usually a queue for something bad to happen.

When he drops his cigarette onto the oil, lighting up the area, the area is lit up slightly, showing another enigma, questioning where the fire will lead.

Only for it to be put out by the second character, creating a great sense of suspense once more, as the shot of the fire being put out is focused on the fire, and not the character, meaning we cannot see him.
The camera then slowly pans up to face him, but due to the little lighting, his face cannot be seen, creating an enigma around the character, causing the audience to think, “Who is this person?”

 

Throughout the next few scenes, the second character’s face is never seen, making him a complete mystery. Even when he is talking to the first character, he cannot be seen.

When the second character light’s up his own cigarette, his mouth is just out of shot, making the cigarette seen, but his face still remaining hidden.