Law Abiding Citizen 9 Key Shots

1. Cut Away Shot This shot captures a cut away shot of both father and daughter spending time with one another. On one hand we see

the young girl making a necklace and on the other we have the Father working on something far more complex. This shot presents

traditional family values and allows the audience to emotionally attach and adore the relationship between the father and child. This shot

also sets the scene of their home environment and allows us to have a clear insight of their home and lifestyle.

2. Shot Reverse Shot Here we find the use of a shot reverse shot between father and daughter whilst they converse. This shot is key as it allows us to be introduced to both the characters who

seem to have a great relevancy in the film. It also allows the audience to again see the closeness between the two through

their facial expressions and the flow of conversation in this shot.

3. Over The Shoulder Shot This shot captures the start of turmoil in the scene as the thieves break entry into this families home. The bat

captured in the shot is a foreshadowing of the violence that will now reveal as well as a representation of aggression and danger. It also

alerts the audience to have an understanding that this scene will now unveil the basis of the plot of the storyline.

4. Mid Shot Here we are presented with a shot that gives the audience an understanding of what these intruders intentions are. At this point we are astounded as their

intentions consist of what would be seen as a petty crime which leads to something much bigger than them. The audience may also be thinking that considering the

intruders intentions the further actions that they are pursuing are unnecessary, the effect of this leads to the audience being extremely frustrated and creating a

naturally high level of negative feelings towards the intruders.

5. Medium Close Up Shot In this medium close up we are shown another key event in this fast pacing scene, this particular shot captures the stabbing of the protagonists wife. Many excellent

thrillers surround the need for vengeance, at this point the audience may assume that this may be an action that will

provoke later events to happen.

6. Close Up Shot This close up of our protagonists face captures his facial expression is in the midst of this rush of events happening. This shot allows us to have an

understanding and connect with the characters emotional turmoil in this moment, it also allows the actor as his character express his frustration and pain due to the

circumstances surrounding him. The shot also shows him rendered useless on the ground and unable to be of any help due to him being tied up around the hands and

mouth, this particular shot enables the audience to empathise with him to a high degree.

7. Mid Shot This sudden mid shot presents the young girl standing innocently in the hallway witnessing the occurrences in her home. The ambient lighting surrounding her and her silence captures her in a very angelic, innocent and vulnerable state. The effect of having her appear in a very calm state results in

creating a high level of tension amongst the audience as opposed to presenting it on-screen through the young girl.

8. Medium Close Up Shot This medium close up captures the background of the intruders. It is evident through this shot that one of the intruders seems to be extremely distressed and frustrated with the other. The expression in his face as well as his body language that is presented

through this shot leads the audience to believe that there is a possibility they both entered with slightly different intentions.

9. Sudden Blank Screen Shot This shot is very effective in terms of adding suspense amongst the audience. The effect of a complete black out

represents the current feeling and emotions of the family presented in the opening scene, in addition to this the sudden black out allows the audience to have an understanding of how the family may have felt in this situation. Much like they are in a flash not aware of what is going on, what will happen and why, the family in the opening scene would

have also felt like this in them few crucial minutes.