Sanctum was released on the 4th of Febuary 2011 in the UK. The film was directed by Alister Grierson. The film's story line is about a team of underwater divers who try and explore the most unaccessible and the most beautiful caves on earth. The manage to access this cave and are in the process of exploring it where there is a tropical storm which forces them further into the unknown of the cave. They must fight to get out or get traped in there forever.
The movie poster itself supplies a sort of 'thriller' - ish scene as it shows the darkness around the diver and the light shining it's way into the unknown which grabs the audiences attention to see where the diver is really going. The way the titles are also layed out give a sense of it being a thriller as well as there is a bright light on top of the "C", which then illuminates the rest of the title, but as it reaches the "S" and the "M", it starts to fade, suggesting that there is a never ending depth of the gave and there is no way out. Another thing that supplys a thrilling but yet chilling aspect of the film is the tagline on the title, which says "The only way out is down". This gives a chilling but yet thrilling sort of aspect to the film as you wonder if there really is a way out when they travel deeper into the cave, and possibly finding an escape route through the cave's maze.
The film itself isn't classed as a "thriller", but is uses techniques that can be used, and would also fit very well in thriller films, such as the claustrophobic spaces and uses of dark and selected lighting.
- In this picture, the director uses the technique of claustrophobic scenes to supply a almost uncomfortable and makes it seem that there is 'no hope' of them all getting out as it gets smaller and smaller in each area as the film continues -
To scenes where there isn't so much space: -
This use of claustrophobia gives the film more suspense and also raises the tension about the fact that you almost feel 'hopeless' for them and that it supplies a thrilling 'fear' of the idea.
There is also a use of little to no lighting in the film, which yet again is a good aspect to use in a thriller. This is a good technique to use as it builds up suspense as you are 'disabled' so see and know what is around the characters in the film, and if they have a light on them like in this film, you'd want them to explore more to build up your senses of the surrounding area.
Scenes like these show the tecnhiques used: -
It finally uses techniques to put people on the edge of their seat and thrill them with that is happening as parts of the film is faced paced. For example: - One part of the film where Victoria (played by Alice Parkinson) has to try and get through the waterfall to reach the next part of the cave, where her other team is trying to help her get up. Her struggle pays off as she reaches the top where her other 2 team mates are, one helping her up and one holding onto a boulder which is being pushed off the edge of the waterfall, and if it falls, would kill the team if they didn't move on in time. As she reaches the top and is standing with her other team mate, it almost gives a sense of relief that they're going to be ok, until the boulder is nudged by a big burst of water, causing all 3 team mates to be pushed back off the water fall and into the pool below. This supplies thrill as it keeps the audience hoping that they'll make it and also put themselves in the action too of fighting the vicious waters.
The clip of the waterfall -
I'm delighted you have understood that this film is an action adventure film but nevertheless have identified the way the director utilises the thriller convention of claustrophobic spaces.
ReplyDeleteYour commentary is enthusiastic and fluent.