Disturbia (2007)

Name of film: Disturbia
Director: D. J. Caruso
Release Date: 14 September 2007 (UK)
Genre: Mystery Thriller
User Rating: 7/10

Disturbia is a much different thriller to the others that I have researched. Disturbia is a mystery thriller set in modern 21st century following a normal teenage male compared to gangsters and thugs set in the 20th century. It doesn't start with a dark act of villainy, instead a car accident which ends with Kale, the main character, losing his father. The film isn't packed full with crime and violence, it just follows the life of Kale after he has been sentenced to 3 months of home arrest.

The film starts with a dark blank screen, and the voice overs of Kale and his father. They are talking about watching something, and not getting caught or seen. This installs mystery into the audience about what is happening, while also giving the audience an idea of what the film is about. The camera then pans out and to the right. The darkness of the mise en scene is turned to grey water, flowing with the camera. This symbolizes drowning and a body floating down the river. The scene uses only diegetic sound of the water flowing.

The shot of the car mirror looking behind at the speeding car behind gives the sense of being followed or chased by the someone. The extreme close up of the mirror gives the audience a point of view. It also makes the car seem like it's going to hit the audience, this puts a sense of danger and fear into audience. The diegetic sound of the car is thumping and controlling, having that effect on the audience and characters in the car.

The title of the film comes onto the screen after the last scene fades to darkness, while the text fades in. This symbolizes the confusion of Kale after his father's death. The only sound is of the music played in the background. The music is slow symbolizing the sadness and despair that Kale feels at his father's death. The title then fades out to a white screen, this symbolizes death and the idea of going towards the bright light of heaven. During the fade out transition, the sound of the school bell from the next scene is heard, suggesting it is like a dream waking the audience up.

With boredom, Kale starts to take an interest in his neighbours and what they get up to. During looking through the hole in the fence the mysterious Mr Turner, he starts calling out asking why something or Kale, who the director wants them to think, is there.
The extreme close up of Kale's eye makes the audience feel like he is watching them, connotating that at this stage he is the bad guy for watching his neighbours. This makes the audience think of the values of good and evil. The non-diegetic sound of the music is a long drowning noise, which puts the audience on edge. The music sounds like something is going to get you, getting closer and closer, by starting off quietly before getting louder and louder. The use of the close-ups in this scene shows the fear in Kale's facial expressions, installing fear into the audience. The camera looks through the hole in the fence, this makes the mise en scene very dark and a small glimpse of light showing Mr Turner adds mystery at what is going to happen, while also fear and danger that Kale could be in. The angle of the shot gives the idea of hiding. The scene has diegetic sound of Mr Turner cutting his grass and walking through his garden and bushes. The crunching of the leaves and branches installs fear into the audience, this goes with the rough voice of Mr Turner. This relates to the car in the second shot I revised, being controlling giving him a power over the audience, a power in which he also has over Kale.

After being suspicous of the actions of Mr Turner, Kale and his friends start to watch him and his activites during a bored day. When he comes home that night, he returns with a woman. As Kale watches, on his own, the woman seems to be distressed. Kale, watching on his video camera, tries to zoom in, but ends up putting the flash off, sparking the attention of Mr Turner.
Non-diegetic sound of the music is used to get the heart beat of the audience going, adding fear and making the audience paranoid. The music then slows down when Kale cannot see Mr Turner in the house. It does however start up again, with aa loud bang of the drums to make the audience jump, when Mr Turner is seen standing at the window. He is staring towards to the camera. This made to seem like he is staring at the audience. The cold murderous stare of Mr Turner installs fear into the audience for the safety of themselves and of Kale. The fast paced editing and the continous moving camera is also a connotation a heartbeat. With camera always moving and the angle of it gives the audience a point of view. It is connoation that the person is shaking in fear. The only diegetic sound in the scene is of Kale breathing, this gives the sense of panic and danger.