POST 10: WITNESS AS A THRILLER

DEFINITION: These are types of films known to promote intense excitement,suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation,uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension. Thriller and suspense films are virtually synonymous and interchangeable categorizations, with similar characteristics and features. 

Primary elements of  the Thriller as a genre	Witness as a thriller Illustration in the film
1.Central protagonist(s) The central protagonist(s) faces death, their own or someone else's.	In the movie Witness the main characters face death indeed. The first one who could've lost his life was Samuel when he witnessed the murder. As McFee gets closer to the bathroom stall where the young boy is hiding, the spectator is convinced that Samuel will die. But the latter manages a narrow escape. The other one who could've died was John during the shoot out in the parking lot with McFee. John will survive but will be heavily wounded since he gets shot in the ribs. The last one to have faced death is Rachel when Schaeffer points a gun at her and is threatning John that he'll shoot her. Eventually, the dirty cop gives up his weapons and Rachel ends up safe and sound.
2.Force(s) of antagonism The force/s of antagonism must initially be clever and/or stronger than the protagonist.	The forces of antagonism in the movie are Schaeffer, McFee and Fergie. The three of them are cops. Brought together they are much stronger than the whole Amish community. Especially Schaeffer who used to be John's both boss and mentor. He was willing to kill one of his collegues (Carter) to get more information about John's hiding spot.
3.Main storyline The main storyline for the protagonist is either a quest or the character who cannot be put down.	In the movie that we've been studying, the main storyline for the protagonist is a quest. John is indeed looking for the people who murdered one of his partners. Once he knows who they are he is also seeking for revenge for his friend and partner Carter who will be killed by one of them.
4.Main plotline The main plot line focuses on a mystery that must be solved.	Witness is the story of a kid who witnesses a murder and his testimony will help John Book find the culprits. So there is a mystery at first when nobody knows who is involved in the crime.
5.Narrative construction The film's narrative construction is dominated by the protagonist's point of view.	The film's narrative construction is dominated by three different points of views. Two of them are stronger than one. Rachel's point of view isn't as present as John's and Samuel's. We follow the movie through Samuel and John's perspective as they play the two major parts in the film.
6.Action and characters All action and characters must be credibly realistic/natural in their representation on screen.	The films portrays the Amish way of life as it is in reality. There were no parodies or exagerations as far as Amish are concerned. The actors and movie staff respected the way the Amish people dresses, talks, lives and most of all their strong ideology of non-violence. The movie directors have been able to reproduce the Amish lifestyle and represent one of their main activities that is barn-raising.
7.Major themes The two major themes that underpin the Thriller are the desire for justice and the morality of individuals.	In the movie, John wants justice for both of his partners. The one who was murdered by McFee , in the beginning, and then Carter who's been murdered by Schaeffer. And John won't stop until they both of his late partners get justice. Also this desire for justice brings out one of John's main qualities that is his morality. He wants to bring the dirty cops to justice when he finds out that they have been involved in drug trafficking. Since that activity goes against everything he and the police stand for, he is also defending his job when he goes after the culprits.
8.Small but significant aspect One small but significant aspect of a great thriller is the presence of innocence in what is seen as an essentially corrupt world.	The character of Samuel is the definition of innocence. Among that danger, violence, the impact between the American culture and the Amish one, Samuel is the only element that “brights up” the story. The fact that he's here reassures the spectator and makes him believe that after all, there can be hope.