Movie Mondays: Mystery/Thriller

Creatively inspirational movies

Gone Girl

David fincher’s signature style of barely lighting his sets is extremely befitting of this film, as we slowly realize the true nature of each character. The color washed cinematography combined with an element of gritty realism blends well and adds to the dark atmosphere of this film.

Whiplash

This movie plays like a slow drum roll leading up to a crash of symbol (both literally and figuratively). Most scenes are lit with rich golden honey hues that makes me think of brass instruments like cymbals and trumpets that blare in the movie’s soundtrack.

Peeping Tom

Banned in both the US and the UK for being too extreme, the film ended the career of filmmaker, Michael Powell. As with all of Powell’s films, hues of red come through the most, but in this films it’s the most appropriate yet disturbing. It’s dark surreal tone are still unnerving to this day.

Brick

Cool somber tones accent this modern day high school who-done-it set as a film noir. The filmmakers choice to Juxtapose classic noir features with 90s high school backdrop make this film truly unique. One of my favorite elements of the film was the use of vernacular similar to films 1940 and 1950s films.

Vertigo

I lived in San Francisco for 14 years and this is one my favorite depictions of the the city. The moody and mysterious atmosphere all take place in the city constantly concealed by fog. This movie also makes it on to the my list for the perfectly taylored costuming of Edith Head. The wardrobe's clean line does so much to enhance the feel of the films sometimes duplicitous characters.