Experimental Thriller Shots

What i particularly love about stills is how much information you can from them - it is so easy to build up a story line using conventions and signifiers. Here are a few photos that i took and have read into to create a possibly storyline:

Shot 1

In this shot we were trying to achieve a mysterious and dangerous effect with the shadows and shaft of light.
It represents thriller because the subject looks like he is about to discover something - the audience can guess this past experience of films where characters are in these situations.
The sink in the background connotes a domestic setting, so maybe he is investigating someone else's house. He doesn't seem very cautious, so he's probably quite naive or alternatively, brave, this also connotes that maybe he has no choice but to investigate - perhaps a policemen. I think the lighting works very well in the shots, because of the silhouette effect; it makes the photo quite eerie, because of the darkness and shadows I think it also creates enigma. I particularly love the chain coming down as it signifies something horrible and twisted.
I think the slight high angle on this photo works because it makes him look vulnerable. Using a LS also works because it shows the audience lots of information and there is no point using anything closer until we need to see his emotions for the reaction shot. The slight cutting off of his foot in the frame also makes it look a little distorted and again signifies something twisted.

To improve the photo I think I would have a high angle/over the shoulder shot, so it’s as if the antagonist is watching him, from above – this makes him seem even more vulnerable. I also think it would be better if he had just come from some stairs so it’s as if he is in basement – because ground level seems to normal.

Shot 2

I was trying to achieve a stalker theme with this photo, the look on his face seems longing and almost lustful which makes the viewer quite uncomfortable because they want to tell the girl she is being watched. It is even more disturbing because he is so close to her (making her seem even more vulnerable) yet she hasn't realised.

I think it represents thriller because of its themes of stalking/watching, but also because of the deserted setting - perhaps a factory closed for the day - connotes isolation. Also because the villain is very bold and therefore probably doesn't know/care he is doing something wrong - therefore connoting some sort of mental instability.

I think that the reflection in the window works incredibly well, it heightens the sense that she is being watched and also gives the shot more eerie-ness. I think that the MS works well also because it's not too far that you can't see any emotion, but it's not so close that you don't get an instant overview of the situation. She is also lower than him in the shot signifying her vulnerability.

If i re shot this i would use a possibly older more battered setting (windows look very clean/new), and i would probably also shoot it at dusk for extra effect. I would also change the male's clothes - to probably darker and more worn and torn. I would probably also use a more innocent/vulnerable looking victim - probably blonde. Another problem was that the girl isn't easy to see, but i haven't thought of a way round that, because i think without the glass in the way, she would look far to vulnerable/stupid for not realising he is there.