The film Essex Boys is a crime thriller based on real events involving the murders of three drug dealers in Essex, UK in 1995. The film establishes the thriller genre through its costumes, locations, lighting, and techniques. Costumes distinguish confident from wary characters. Dark and isolated locations like garages and coastlines create a sense of danger, mystery, and claustrophobia. Dim lighting is used to build atmosphere and tension. Techniques like characters staring emotionlessly through windows separate and reveal characters in mysterious ways.

1. Essex Boys Case Study – How do
aspects establish the genre?

2. • Essex boys was directed by Terry Winsor. The Genre is a Crime Thriller.
• It was released on 14 July 2000
• The genre of this film is a thriller (crime thriller to be specific). The theme
consists of revenge and daily lives of criminals in Essex, London. To
help identify the generic aspects I’ll look at how the lighting, costume,
location, storyline and techniques make the film a thriller.

3. • The film is based around events in December 1995 that culminated
in the murders of three drug dealers in Rettendon, Essex, UK.
• On 6th December Patrick Tate, Craig Rolfe and Tony Tucker, three
drug dealers (well known to the police) were lured to
Workhouse Lane, Rettendon. There they were blasted to death
with a shot gun while sitting in their Range Rover. They had been
lured to their deaths on the pretext of a lucrative drugs deal. The
three bodies were found the following morning, 7 December
1995. The start of the film is about a young taxi driver (Billy)
being offered the job to help a small time hard man Jamie (Sean)
get revenge. This storyline automatically gives a sense of crime
and punishment with shady jobs being done which is perfect for
a thriller type film.
•

4. Costumes and Characters
• A character named Jason is wearing a bright yellow shirt and
symbolises his confidence and comfort when doing his job. He
stands out straight away because everyone else in the scene is
wearing black and white clothing and he is wearing a bright
yellow shirt importance over the others as he is the character
standing out from the crowd.
• Billy’s costumes are mostly in black which makes him look normal
and casual. This may show that he is weary about being caught
so tries to stay as normal as possible for his job and also looks
very smart. He seems shy compared to Jason because he wears
black to fade in, while Jason wears bright clothes to be the
centre of attention which shows confidence. These characters
profiles show the types of characteristics people play in thrillers
and they can be confident and up for the job but they can also
be nervous with the fear of knowing they are in a dangerous job.

5. Location
• In the opening of the film, there are a lot of cobwebs over the car and
around the garage. This may suggest that he is in an awkward and
scary situation because cobwebs portray spiders which signify spooky
situations. The garage creates claustrophobia and that billy is trapped
and cannot get out of this job.
• There is a long tunnel which Billy drives through with Jason and this
would giving the impression of the driver not being able to turn back
and has to get through the tunnel there's and nowhere else to go. • A
muddy coast line is used to get rid of the suspects body. He is covered
in mud and beaten up with acid thrown over his face and they leave
him and drive away, leaving him isolated in the mucky sand which
looks like a desert which goes on for miles and miles
• The location shows aspects of a thriller but the senses of isolation and
claustrophobia and the destination aren't the normal locations in
other genres but mystery, tension and suspense is simply shown from
the garage, tunnel and coastline at the beginning of Essex Boys
establishing the atmosphere and types of scene.

6. Lighting
• The garage at the beginning is dark inside as there's little non ambient
lighting. This lighting shows a sense of danger and mystery which can
make audiences think something bad will happen. This is important
that the lighting shows this because they are about to commit a crime.
It builds up the scene and atmosphere. There is lots of non ambient
lighting to show that dim lighting is needed as it's night time so it's
needed. It also so undercover work and interrogation.
• Another effective piece of lighting used is when Jamie is standing in front
of the car seen through the wind screen by Billy. The light on the
character's position shows that the light is shining upon Jamie to show
his importance or power over Billy. Thrillers normally have some
characters stronger than others with feelings of fear and dominance
which is portrayed here.
• Chiaroscuro lighting (light on dark) is also used which suggests mystery,
nightmare, suspense and isolation. This is a key feature in noir thrillers
because the darkness on the light establishes the noir of the film.

7. Used Techniques:
• Billy is in the car and sees Jason staring at him from the outside. The windscreen is
the only thing separating them. This technique of separation is used to make
Jason look like a psychopath because he is just staring at him with no emotions
being shown. Even though they're together, no one can be trusted in this
shady business.
• The second part time this happens is when they are in the fishery and Jason is
beating up someone called Chippy, and Billy is watching it as if he has nothing
to do with it. He looks like he doesn't want to interfere because Jason is a
strong character and he doesn't want to get in his way. He is the backing man
in the attack.
• The car window is lowered by Jason as he stares with no emotion to what seems
to be no mans land. This is a very effective shot because his character is being
revealed from the initial window separating him from the outside.
• The techniques of the separation from glass sends of the aspects of a thriller genre
through mystery and the facial expressions from the characters behind the
glass. Either looking nervous or having a poker face with no emotion being
shown.
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