Murder By Numbers

MURDER BY NUMBERS

Genre Elements/Conventions:
This film is a thriller, we can tell from a number of conventions. This includes the title, the use of mise-en-scene, lighting, cinematography, editing and sound. The beginning of the film starts with a track view of the sea splashing against the cliffs. The editing in this scene is the use of a sepia tone in the picture this creates a old fashioned look contrasted with the scene of the shore and the sound of the waves this adds a deserted look especially as it zooms into a deserted barn on the edge of a cliff.

Sub Genre:
From watching the opening sequence there isn't a apparent sub-genre however there is a sense of mystery because of the deserted house and two men with guns pointed to their head.


Certificate: 15 because of some strong language, violence, drug references and sex and nudity.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this film would be people interested in detective films above the age of 15. As the main characters Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have stared in various films that have engaged the younger generation such as Miss Congeniality and the Notebook audiences may want to watch this film to watch the characters.


Institutional details:
Budget: $50,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend: $9,307,394 (USA) (21 April 2002) (2663 Screens)
Gross: $31,874,869 (USA) (30 June 2002)

Critical Reception:
Guardian- This very underpowered thriller ... has a garbled, unbelievable plot, dull performances and an absurd, back-projection cliff-edge finale.


Victoria and Daisy