Analysis of Thrillers (part 1 of 3)

V for Vendetta

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

This quote is narrated by Evey (Natalie Portman) as the movie opens in 1605 of the fifth of November; in the dark and empty tunnels beneath the houses of parliament. With nothing but candle light, appears the mysterious Guy Fawkes as he attempts his world famous gunpowder plot to destroy the houses of parliament. With the dark, orchestral music building, a classic chase scene takes place between the guards and Guy Fawkes. However, most of you who know the story of the fifth of November should be able to foresee his capture. James McTeigue decides to portray the cruel and harsh death of Guy Fawkes being hung to show the overall cruelty and thrill of the rest of the film.

425 years later the story is set in modern London where a series of terrorist attacks have driven the country to near chaos. As England strives for peace it builds up a new government lead by the antagonist, Adam Sutler as the High Chancellor who plays a similar role to Hitler. Ruling the government, and controlling the country with faith (Christianity).

The next scene opens with a close up shot of the news, the presenter spreading the wrath of God and fear across the city, delivering a message to the people "Unity through Faith" after he reads out the list of races, religions etc... who are to blame, showing the dark and twisted film is set in.
The masked and mysterious protagonist "V" (Hugo Weaving) is then introduced; he wears an old fashioned mask to disguise himself as Guy Fawkes, a dark Victorian suit with a black cloak and top hat, also equipped with daggers. Throughout the film V is shown as a shadowy terrorist of justice.

The camera then rotates to the next main character, Evey (Natalie Portman) a woman who has had her family taken and life ruined by the new government. She is shown as a normal citizen of London on her way out, but little is she aware of the curfew set by the government in the streets of London.
Shortly after she leaves, Evey is approached in a dark and gloomy alleyway by the new undercover police known as the "Fingermen" who arrest anyone breaking their curfew. The Fingermen are shown as cruel and thuggish as they become progressively violent towards Evey, cornering her in the alleyway building a tense scene as she is about to be attacked, leaving the audience thrilled and pushed to the edge of their seats.

An ironic start to the film, the mysterious V appears from the dark and eery corners of the streets to save the helpless Evey from the Fingermen. With ease, the Fingermen are dispatched showing the dark skills that the masked figure possesses. The tone of the music is set to make the audience fear the dark character, creating a tense scene, leaving the question of whether he is friend or foe.
The intelligence of V is then shown when explaining his cause and plot to Evey, using all words starting with the letter V to express the importance of his character and causing suspense, gasping to find out the identity of the masked man.

Overall creating the classic thriller movie character of V, dark, mysterious, intelligent and a masked vigilante with a justified cause.

We move on to the first of V's gunpowder plot as he decides to bring down the Bailey of London, they stand on the rooftops of the dark city. As the orchestral music plays through the streets randomly, V welcomes the music, another mysterious feature of his character. The music builds and builds up until the last moment leaving the audience tense and anxious, just as the tense music progresses and grips the audience, James McTeigue then decides to show the explosion and destruction of the Bailey. The masked vigilante laughs as his plans have succeeded also giving a theme of classical music for when V's terrorist attacks are about to take place.

Evey progressively becomes more and more involved V's deviant plot throughout the film, she is saved again and again by the mysterious vigilante and is eventually held in V's underground lair. A dark and gloomy set, full of old fashioned furniture, archways etc... A classic set/home for a mysterious character of a thriller. Here they connect and develop comfort for one another, here the real character of V is revealed as a caring, skillful, intelligent and normal person who has been corrupted by the government. He was held as a test subject in a dark and empty holding cell, cell V where he was tortured and interrogated, however the audience are kept guessing as we are not told that the man in the cell is actually V. We are shown obvious evidence but his identity is kept blurred as he escapes the cell on fire, also showing why he hides behind his mask.

Moments later in the film Evey, though denied permission to leave V's safe house, leaves to meet with her boss Gordan where she is abducted by the government and taken to a cell almost exact to where V was held. She is tortured, interrogated, threatened to be killed and head shaven in a dark, cold and wet holding cell, here we find the small biography of a previous test subject scribbled on a piece of toilet paper which is a key part to the thriller.

In the final classic interrogation scene of Evey's abduction she is let free, the door of her cell is left open as she slowly, shaking paralytically, walks out, down the stone corridor to an open door... And then the twist of the story, the moment that has kept the mystery and suspense within the audience, the moment they've all been waiting for throughout Evey's abduction. She walks through the door to look upon V's underground hideout, the shock and confusion in the audience brings an immediate prejudgement on the mysterious V. This creates a classic twist to the thriller, that will leave you hoodwinked as on sit on the edge of your seats confused and hungry for more of the plot.
An excruciating test set up by V to diminish Evey's fear of the world, here we find out the second reason for V's plot, firstly he support the cause of Guy Fawkes's plot to destroy parliament and secondly revenge... after the torture he faced and to avenge the woman who wrote the autobiography after the pain and agony she suffered which lead to her death.

And the finale, the ultimatum to the gunpowder plot, the master plan of the mysterious V.

As the Chancellor sends out his soldiers in order to attain peace, another ironic move, V set up an army of supporters to Guy Fawkes's cause. Another little twist and mysterious scene set up by the director, as a crowd of thousands of citizens of London, dressed as V himself creating a very dark and powerful mood to the ending of the film.

Finally, the plot has come to a successful end, V for Victory, the liberation of London has begun. A dramatic ending to the film as the explosion occurs, the masked crowd remove their disguises as they pay their respects to V, however, doing so the director smartly sends a message by showing the faces of the characters that had been killed such as, V's cell partner, Evey's parents, the little girl and Evey's boss Gordan.

The message is shows us that even when dead, an idea live on, directly linking to Guy Fawkes's gunpowder plot 425 years before.







Conclusion

Overall, James McTeigue has directed a successful thriller, creating mystery and suspense continuously throughout the film using dark characters, gloomy lighting, orchestral music, city setting, props, tense scenes, disguises and kept the audience guessing. He also created a twist to keep distort the audiences prejudged ending, leaving them in shock and furthermore an expansion to the mystery of the well developed character of V.

Although the movie contains most of the features of a thriller, I personally didn't think the film built a lot of tension and suspense. However, the film produced a mystery throughout, using the character of V and created an excruciating twist towards the end.

Rating - 4/5