'Thelma and Louise' Thriller Research

'Thelma and Louise' Thriller Research

Institutional Information:Director - Ridley Scott

Release Date - 12th July 1991

User Comments - 'A terrific movie...', 'I don't like it'

User Rating - Males - 7.2% Females - 7.7%

As the film opens western music is played in which contradicts the film genre which is of course actually a thriller. Scott could be doing this to suggest how different things can be to what they appear; i.e the capability of women. The sans serif font that is used suggests how broad the set opinions of women were, and that there was zero flexibility. A beautiful landscape comes onto screen.


This image also contradicts the usual chiaroscuro lit silhouette of a thriller film as it is more feminine and suggests natural beauty. The long shot has been used to incline that a lot is out there. This image pans out across the land until it comes to a halt at a long and thin dirt track which is a vanishing shot into a mountain; Scott could be suggesting that even if you vanish from the police and hide from a crime, you still have to climb a mountain eventually. In addition the camera also lifts as it stops on the dirt track, this could be because control and the person who is supposed to be looking at the shot feels invisible. The vanishing point in the first thriller signifier as is suggests venturing into the unknown. The use of a black and white lens could be to suggest that something is being hidden, but also to suggest corruption.
The credits roll from 2:15 - this is a fairly long time; suggesting a prison sentence perhaps. After the above shot the lens is removed from the camera and the shot is now in colour but with a slightly sepia effect to enhance the 'western' atmosphere. The non-diagetic music also becomes more upbeat, and then all fades into darkness with a completely black screen (thriller convention) perhaps this could be suggesting that happiness doesn't last long. The screen then cuts to a crowded, busy, and claustrophobic cafe with a non-diagetic girly soundtrack that the lyrics say "little honey, are you going out tonight?" which is patronising to women.

99% of the people in this shot are women - this is very unlike a thriller film where the only women featured are femme fatales. The waitress, Thelma goes over and speaks to a customer and doesn't seem to give them her full attention, this is the first sign of her masculine and uncaring side. Then Thelma goes over and speaks to two young girls and says "you girls are too young to be smoking, don't you think?" this is when her motherly side appears. Once again, Thelma goes into the kitchen and her masculine traits show when she lights a cigarette. The non-consistant personality of Thelma suggests that she craves dominance however society can't offer her that at that stage. Thelma then calls Louise (this reflects Thelma's dominance in the relationship) and she highly contrasts with Thelma as she is wearing a floaty nightdress with long, bouncy red hair.

Louise's husband comes onto the screen and automatically you can tell that he does not believe in womens rights, and has a stereotypical view of women as the first words he says are "god dammit Thelma" and "don't holla like that". He then proves himself to be self-absorbed when he starts combing his hair. He then goes on to say 'I may not even make it for dinner, you know how Fridays are" suggesting that he either has a very well paid, busy job, or he is cheating on Louise showing his disrespect for women. "It's a good thing that you're not regional manager, and I am!" when he said this is reminded me of the glass ceiling, and that he obviously beleives that women are not deserving of the top jobs, and that even if they were - they would make a pigs ear of it.

In conclusion, I have noticed that all of the camera shots are fairly level, and not tilted or anything. This suggests secrecy, and that nobody is looking down on them, or up - and that the only people that know what they are about to do is themselves. Thriller conventions are more obvious as the film proceeds and they are minimal in the first five minuites that I have analysed. The few examples are the black and white camera lens, the controlling husband, vanishing shot, dark and smokey rooms, and swearing. As the movie goes on more aspects such as rape, guns, cars, murder and such things appear.