USE
Develop
Challenge
Watch Click The Buttons To Change Page
Trailer

Intro
Weapon Of Choice (2011) Taken (2009)
• Narrative Themes
Develop
Kidnap Theme Kidnap Theme
Lone Hero Lone Hero
Challenge •Shot Types
Missing Family Member Missing Family Member
Betrayal Betrayal
Watch
•Genre Conventions
Revenge Revenge
Trailer

Intro
Collateral (2004)
Develop
Challenge
Watch
Trailer
Weapon Of Choice (2011)

Intro
A Suspenseful An emphasisfailed or successful crime
account of a on Action
In ‘Weapon Of Choice’, the central protagonist’s seen in
There are numerous action stunts that can be
younger brother ‘Weapon Of Choice’ trailer.
the is successfully kidnapped.
Develop
Shoot-Outs
A Focus on the Criminals, Rather than the Police
The are no police officersthe the trailer whatsoever.
Guns feature heaily in in trailer, with many of the
characters being held at gunpoint at one stage or
Challenge another
Double-Crosses
A Blurred Sense Of Heroes & Villains
In the trailer it is clear that the female lead has
Aside From the central protagonist, it is difficult to tell
committed a betrayal.
in the trailer who is good and who is bad.
Watch
Trailer

USE
Betrayal
Intro Betrayal is a narrative theme common in Crime
Thriller’s, such as in Taken (2009) where the
central character is double-crossed by an old
friend. It is a regular occurrence in the genre that
the hero is betrayed by an old acquaintance, or
Challenge perhaps a rival . However, in Weapon Of
Choice, the concept is developed further by the
idea that the hero could be betrayed by someone
much closer to them, such as a long-term
girlfriend.
Watch
Trailer

USE
The Hero
In Weapon of Choice, the hero does challenges the
usual criteria of a Crime thriller protagonist. For
Develop example , the general convention is that the hero
be a rugged, middle-aged man, ie. Liam Neeson
or Tom Cruise. However, the central character in
W.O.C, played by Sam Ball, is in his early
twenties. This challenge to the conventional hero
Intro is reinforced further by the idea of occupation.
Crime Thriller hero’s are usually
detectives, retired C.I.A operatives or former
criminals themselves. They are very rarely just
an average, everyday person, which is the case
Watch in Weapon of Choice. By challenging this
Trailer convention, and having a younger, ordinary
hero, the hope is that the target audience will
connect with him better.

USE
Develop
Challenge
Intro