Law Abiding Citizen Cinematography

Camera shots are important in thrillers to give different perspectives of what is going on and to set the tone of the film. Different camera shots make the audience feel like they are there but it can also make the audience feel like they’re spectating what is going on within the film.  This engages the audience and makes them want to continue watching. Also the different camera angles show the audience different emotions within thrillers whether it is anger or just being scared the audience will feel the emotions with the character.

In law abiding citizen there is very eerie music at the beginning showing the discomfort, anger and hurt that Gerard Butler as when his wife has been raped and stabbed. Then there is a close up on Gerard Butler and you can see the hurt within his eyes and this makes the audience feel sorry for him and they feel like that he is the victim.

When the killers enter the house the camera is at eye level and this gives the point of view of what the killer is seeing this shows Gerard butler smiling and happy this lures the audience into a false sense of security and then the killer hits him then the camera pans around to show the killers. Then the killers turn of the light, this gives the setting of the house an eerie setting and shows the audience that something bad is going to happen to the family.

There is an extreme close up of his hands and it showed that cable ties have been used to tie his hands up, this camera angles shows the audience that all his family are in trouble and this is the point when the audience know that they’re helpless.

When the killer notices his daughter the camera has a close up of the killer and there is a smirk and this gives the impression to the audience that he is happy with himself and proud what he has done. Then there is a mid-close up of Butler’s daughter and she looks scared and confused at the same time, the audience here now feel helpless that nobody can help her. After the killer has taken his daughter to another room there is a long shot between the doorway showing the struggle of Butler and the pain he is going through due to this crime.