Essex boys was released on the 14th of July 2000 in the UK; It is a generic crime thriller featuring drugs dealers, guns and gangsters and is directed by Terry Windsor. Essex boys was a low budget film predominantly shown at independent and art house cinemas, it was distributed by Pathe-UK and Miramax home video which are known for distributing independent and foreign films, this means the film could already have a pre- existing audience. When the film was brought out it was shown in 54 UK screens and made £111, 548 in the opening weekend which is a particularly low profit, even for a low budget independent film.
The film opens with a typical thriller location- a gloomy garage. The mise-en-scene features a very prominent vanishing point which immediately adds tension; the chiaroscuro lighting adds to this effect and foreshadows dark, horrific events to follow. The light is coming from above the character so his features are not distinguished, this can suggest he is trying to hide his identity and he is not really certain about who he is or what his purpose is. The location connotes entrapment and isolation which is a classic thriller convention. Billy walks to the light switch and flicks it on which then reveals more of his surroundings, it shows cobwebs and clutter in the corners of the room yet you still only see a small part of the garage as there is a very good vanishing point which adds enigma to the scene. There is only diagetic sound used at this point of the film which I think is very effective as it makes the character seem alone and isolated, you can hear his footsteps echoing throughout the room.
Billy enters the car and there is a voice over (non- diagetic sound) which is from his perspective, we immediately see that the film is based around this character and would be his point of view, this also makes the audience engage with the character. The voice over starts with the phrase ‘I’ll try anything once me, except bestiality, and maybe Morris dancing’. This is a strong cultural signifier as we can hear that the character is from Essex, it also shows the audience a little about his personality because he makes a joke within the first sentence which shows he does not take himself too seriously. As the character enters the car (another generic thriller convention) we can see his features for the first time which also gives the audience an insight into his personality, age and importance within the film.
The film then cuts to a POV shot of ‘Jason’ as the voice over describes him, the camera angle is supposed to surprise and shock the audience when Jason is revealed yet it also gives the impression Billy knows he is there. It then cuts to a medium close up of Jason showing his features and his costume which is very important as his costume implies he is a thug/ gangster. The expression on his face is very ‘hard’ and he seems to be glaring, this is showing his violent personality straight away and suggests hatred of all people, even himself. His violent attitude makes him seem as if he does not care about anyone or anything and is numb to any remorse.
The film then cut to a shot of Billy’s car driving on an industrial road, the lighting is ambient giving a sense of realism which the audience can relate to yet the sound switches to non-diagetic (soundtrack) which builds tension. There is a tunnel ahead of the car which is a good vanishing point, as the car nears the entrance of the tunnel it builds tension even more. Once inside the tunnel the car is immersed with non-ambient lighting. The tunnel signifies isolation and the unknown; the shot elongates the tunnel making it seem never ending and also makes it look like the barrel of a gun which foreshadows events to come. This cuts to a medium shot of Billy and Jason in the car, there are lights very cleverly reflected in the windscreen of the car which looks like the bars of a prison cell which also reflects the crime and corruption within the rest of the film.
There is a panning shot of a sign saying ‘Essex’ which is another cultural signifier.
As the pair reach their destination there is a medium close up of Jason frowning before he gets out of the car, not recognising that Billy is there. A medium close up of Billy’s face makes the audience aware that he is slightly worried and scared yet he does not want to show his emotions to Jason. Jason enters the factory (ambient lighting) and very publicly attacks a man who is clearly the reason for him being there, the diagetic sound makes the attack seem more realistic as the audience can hear the man’s reactions to each hit he gets. The fact that the attack is in a public place strongly displays corruption within modern society as during the fight there is only one person who tries to help yet even that is a weak attempt, everyone witnessing the attack is either cheering or watching with interest which suggests this is a normal occurrence in this part of Essex. The film seems to encourage a bad image of Essex and plays on the fact that it is a ‘dangerous’ place.
After the action, it shows the featureless, anonymous white van driving along an empty road which is yet another typical thriller convention which adds enigma. The van arrives at the Essex marshes which is a featureless open space with no one around, this means it is extremely isolated from the public and has a very good vanishing point, the shot seems to go on forever giving the impression that there is no way out. This location also reflects jason's predatory personality and it is clear that this was not the first time Jason had been there for ‘business’. Billy says ‘And that was that, job done.’ I think this sums up the way these men live, it shows that they either have to accept what was going on or become a victim and an enemy. It then cuts to a long shot of the enigmatic white van exiting the marshes.
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