Callum's textual analysis of "The Usual Suspects"

From the beginning of the sequence the audience experiences anticipation as they don't know why Keeton was trying to kill himself or who the figure was. They can connote that he is foe because of the fact that the camerawork means his face isn't shown and that he is dressed in dark clothes making him mysterious. However the fact that he put out the fire could make the audience assume that he is a friend because he stops him killing himself, but then the opposite happens and he goes to kill him. In addition to this the use of dead bodies could make the audience think that Keeton is a foe as it is assumed that he killed them. This works well because it makes the audience feel different emotions furthermore enhancing the viewing experience.

The use of sound is very effective in this sequence as it increases the viewers anticipation as the background music gives an eerie feel. In addition to this sounds such as water, matches being lit, footsteps, deep toned dialogue and a gunshot all give the audience different feelings. The fire could connote anger and the gunshot turned thunder indicate the motive behind it as it is the dominant sound over calm music. The enigma created is very effective to further the audiences anticipation but also contribute to the storyline as not only are the audience asking questions but the characters are too, making the viewers feel part of the film. The main story of the film is finding out who the figure who killed Keeton is so including the audience on this journey instead of showing them from the beginning like a lot of thrillers do.