crime drama analysis

Crime drama

And Then There Were None

And then there were none is a bbc production about the murders of 9 individuals, who each done something deemed as evil in their life. It is set on a remote island which is an example of a crime drama genre convention due to the setting usually being in remote locations. The significant part of the narrative that makes it unique is that the victims are also antagonists and their deaths are almost exemplified as justice for their actions throughout their life. Other crime drama conventions of this crime drama include its use of time period/era of 1965. This is significant as it creates more tension from a younger audience that did not experience that time period, crime dramas often use unfamiliar settings including remote locations and different time periods to create tension. The storyline also fits the genre conventions of a crime drama as it features todorovs theory of equilibrium. The narrative begins in a state of equilibrium, a disruption then occurs, the storyline continuous until the resolution occurs and equilibrium is restored. The narrative also focuses around the main female actress and she is represented as a vulnerable victim that needs protection. This is often done in crime dramas and women are usually associated as being more fearful than men, thus positioning the audience to be more fearful of the storyline.

Mise-en-scene

Setting- Remote location on an island of the coast Devon in a large old mansion.

           

Lighting - Natural lighting is used to create a sense of realism. The lighting is often dark due to the time period it is set in and the fact it is shot in an old building. This builds up the intensity of the tension throughout the episodes.

Costume- The costumes are in keeping with the time period (1965) and they are dressed formally to fit the middle class characters they are portraying.

Sound- Diegetic sound is used mainly to create a sense of realism including the sounds of waves, creeks in the old house and the expected sounds of an island. There is also non-diegetic sound which is used during tense scenes.

Camera angles- A wide range of camera angles are used to establish the setting along with the characters expressions and emotions. Extreme-long shots, establishing shots, close ups, extreme close ups, medium-long shots and over-the-shoulder shots are some of the main shots used throughout the first episode in order to establish the location and the to familiarise the audience with both the location and the characters.