Independent study - How do directors use techniques within a claustrophobic space to increase menace in thrillers?

127 Hours

'127 Hours' is a 2010 Thriller/drama by director Danny Boyle based on the inspiring true story of Aron Ralston who was trapped under a rock for 5 days before severing his arm with a blunt pocket knife to survive while in a hiking accident in the deserts of Utah.

Boyle makes excellent use of the small ravine that was constructed for the set to air a sense of vivid claustrophobia to the audience. One such technique which used alongside this claustrophobic set design is specific manipulation of camerawork to place the audience in such an enclosed space to give the feel of being trapped with Aron (James Franco) in a life threatening and menacing environment. Furthermore Boyle uses the clever technique of putting the audience in the position of Aron's portable camera, which allowed Boyle to put the audience so uncomfortably close to Franco as the actor manipulated the handheld camera within the small space also making use of dutch angles because of the space restrictions, literally obstructing any wide angles that could be used, which heavily drove the incredible menace and claustrophobia which the film created using these techniques in the field of camerawork.

Additionally, the director of 127 hours also uses minimalist lighting effects throughout the film to collaborate with the claustrophobic space to highlight the theme of menace and danger throughout the film, given the space in which to film and the naturalistic approach to telling the true story of Aron, the set therefore restricted lighting choices in it's production. Throughout the film, the only lighting used is positioned above Franco to emulate the light of the ravine. Furthermore, this lighting choice connotes Aron's imprisonment as the light is only a feint glow, leaving nothing but shadows at the base of the ravine, which, coupled with the sense of claustrophobia created by specific camerawork and mise-en-scene, an impending sense of menace is created which blocks in the audience and traps them alongside Franco's character.