Looking More Into Representation

 Just to be more specific in exactly how representation is employed in thriller films, I decided to look at the opening scene from A Quiet Place (2018) and how certain elements such as cinematography, mise-en-scene, etc. is employed to create representation in a thriller film. What I found was mostly gender representation, as seems to be a common trend with many thriller films, as there is usually a trend with who the victims, heroes, leaders, etc. are.

A Quiet Place - Opening Scene (Beau Abbott Dies) [HD]

    The opening scene of A Quiet Place (2018) represents women as followers and shows them as being emotional and thinking with their feelings and not their brain, while also portraying men as leaders and showing them to not be as emotional through the use of cinematography, editing, and mise en scene. When they leave the building, blocking is employed to show that he is in the front and all of the women are following him, making him seem like the powerful one and the 'leader' of the group. Props are also used as he is shown carrying a big backpack and he also is carrying the kid, making him look strong and is further showing his leadership and strength compared to everyone else in the group. Long shots, tracking shots, wide shots, and various group shots are used to show that he is in the front and everybody is following his lead and going where he decides to go. When the littlest kid, Beau, stops before the bridge and the monster starts chasing after the kid, a close up is shown of the mother, the father, and the daughter is shown to show all of their reactions. The father sets down the child he is carrying and begins to run after Beau to save him, all the while looking focused and urgent. Meanwhile, the mother and daughter or shown to be panicking and scared and just stand there doing nothing. This use of camera movement showing the mother and daughter standing still and the father running shows he is acting on logic instead of emotion, while the others aren't. The editing also plays a part in this as a shot-reverse-shot keeps being shown between the father and the others, showing the contrast in their emotions and actions.