3. Intro
Weapon Of Choice (2011) Taken (2009)
Develop
Kidnap Theme Kidnap Theme
Lone Hero Lone Hero
Challenge Missing Family Member Missing Family Member
Betrayal Betrayal
Watch Revenge Revenge
Trailer
8. Intro
An emphasis on Action
There are numerous action stunts that can be seen in
the ‘Weapon Of Choice’ trailer.
Develop
Shoot-Outs
Guns feature heaily in the trailer, with many of the
characters being held at gunpoint at one stage or
another
Challenge
Double-Crosses
In the trailer it is clear that the female lead has
committed a betrayal.
Watch
Trailer
9. Intro
A Suspenseful account of a failed or successful crime
In ‘Weapon Of Choice’, the central protagonist’s
younger brother is successfully kidnapped.
Develop
A Focus on the Criminals, Rather than the Police
The are no police officers in the trailer whatsoever.
Challenge
A Blurred Sense Of Heroes & Villains
Aside From the central protagonist, it is difficult to tell
in the trailer who is good and who is bad.
Watch
Trailer
10. 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
11. 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 in Weapon of
Watch Choice. By challenging this convention, and
Trailer having a younger, ordinary hero, the hope is
that the target audience will connect with him
better.
