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Codes and Conventions of Whodunit Films - Coggle Diagram
Codes and Conventions of Whodunit Films
Narrative
Characters - Murderer/Suspect, Victim, False Suspect, Detective, Normal Characters
Non-Linear Narrative (includes flashbacks) - very hard to have linear structure for Whodunit Films
Visual Codes
Blood (in murder mystery plots)
Forensic Evidence (DNA)
Clues leading to the suspect (including Red Herrings)
Audio Codes
Background Music to create/increase tension
Ambient Sound of the setting (eg. Beach scene = sea waves sound)
Diegetic Sounds (heard by characters and audience)
Non-Diegetic Sounds (not heard by characters but heard by audience)
Sound Effects (eg. gunshots, knife stabs)
Technical Codes
Close Ups of Characters and Evidence
Establishing Shot of Setting
Flashbacks of the crime scene
Mood Lighting to focus on detail
Less bright lighting to fit the crime/murder mystery feeling
Enigma Codes
Plot Twists (the anticipated suspect turns out not to be the suspect at all)
Cliffhangers rare as the end of the film usually reveals the evil character
Structure of a Whodunit Film
Central Mystery
Detective and Suspects
Clues and Red Herrings
The Reveal
Binary Oppositions
Good vs Evil (Detective/Victim vs Criminal/Gang)
Rich vs Poor families
Day and Night (time of story)
Typical Settings
Banks, Casinos
Haunted Houses
Urban Cities
Old Suburban Area