Panic Room

Panic Room was directed by David Fincher and written by David Koepp. It was released into the UK on the 3^rd of May 2002. The genre it was under was a crime, mystery and thriller. The lead role was played Jodie Foster - ‘Meg Altman’. Her daughter: ‘Sarah Altman’ was played by Kristen Stewart. The Mastermind behind the robbery was Forest Whitaker as ‘Burnham’.

The fact that there is a woman, her daughter and multiple criminals proves immediately that the movie is a thriller. ‘Meg’ and ‘Sarah’ live in this large house on their own and inconveniently on the night that they move in they don’t know that they are about to be intruded. When they are trapped in the panic room, it is playing on the flaw of claustrophobia. They are trapped in a very small space with contact of the outside world cut off.

The plot of this thriller involves two characters which come into conflict with outside forces; the outside forces being the intruders. One of the intruders wears a mask which allows him to appear as a shadowy figure. This adds to the tension the viewer is experiencing.

For Meg and Sarah to be living in such an enormous house alone, is not the best situation they would want to be in, due to the following event that takes place. The very intense scenes were the ones where Meg had to leave the panic room in order to get either her cell phone or the medicine for her daughter. These scenes were both played in slow motion which added a very effective impact to the movements and sounds. For instance when the lamp dropped while Meg tried to reach for the phone and all of a sudden it was a race between her and the thieves back to the panic room. This was a very nerve - wracking and high tense scene.

The burglar’s only objective was to get into the panic room, apprehend the money and get out. This wasn’t as easy as they would have expected. They had to get in with Meg and Sarah already in there. The film was given its’ tension, pursuit and plot by them trying different ways of getting in. They got closer every time, but something Meg prevented it until she had to leave the room for the medicine when she had no choice.

There was diagetic sounds included in the film, such as a door knock from the police, a sledge hammer used to break through a wall, and a PA system (Public Announcement system) and so on.

Meg and Sarah were wearing sleeping garments. This makes sense as the occurrence takes place at 4 O’clock in the morning. It would not have made sense if they were wearing suits, or jeans or anything else.

The way in which this movie was produced, was to follow the thriller genre by the location that it was set, the props; such as guns and sledge hammers. Finally the police that engage toward the end.

The Mise-en-Scene in 'Panic Room' was done very well. The whole film practically took place in that house and based in that room. There were many things inbetween the robbers and the victims. One of those things was the childs medication which is the one thing that wasn't located in the panic room.