In Bruges

"In Bruges"
Directed by Martin McDonagh - (2008)

"In Bruges", differs greatly to the other thrillers I have been researching. The main difference being that "In Bruges" is a thriller/comedy. "In Bruges" uses black - comedy, in a way which makes you smile even at the most darkest of moments, which makes it a very interesting film to research. The basic plot is that hitman Ray (farrell) is sent on a job when it goes awry, he is then sent to Bruges to lie low and wait for further orders.

Here we have a shot, that is used during the opening credits of the film. This shot is one of many that effectively sets the scene of the film. During which, a narration is spoken by one of the main characters (Colin Farell). This shot tells us much about the upcomming film, the use of lighting here suggests that the film will be quite dark, the cobbeled streets suggest a world of deceit and mystery, and could quite easily give the impression of a Jack the Ripper like character. The music that plays during the credits adds a feeling of suspense to the images and the narration is of a very dark murder that Colin Farell's character commited. All in all the credits suggest that this will be a very dark and gloomy film that will cover various thriller/crime conventions.

The next image used here, is a very dark image. The image shows Ray (Farrell) murdering one of his targets, who is infact a priest he is confessing too. This image is very disturbing and very graphic, and fits in with the mood of the film. McDonagh uses the setting of a confession chamber as an ironic setting, Ray confesses to a murder before commiting that very murder on the priest he has confessed too. It is this ironic/dark comedy that makes "In Bruges" the film it is. Furthermore McDonagh uses a barrier between the priest and Ray in the form of a wodden door to suggest that prehaps Ray is in secret regretting the various murderous acts he has commited - he does not want to view the people he kills.


This final image from "In Bruges" shows two of the hitmen up a bell tower in the city. Again McDonagh uses a somehwat obscure setting for a murder, but at the same time comicly fitting. In this shot Mcdonagh uses the stereotypical modern day gangster/hitman clothing to show who is in control, he gives Harry (right) a well dressed look suggesting he is the boss, while he gives Ken (left) a much dirtier and scruffier look, suggesting he is not. Mcdonagh also gets Ken to look up to Harry suggesting he is below him, and this could also show that Ken has some admiration for Harry even though he is going to take his life. Finaly Mcdonagh uses the ledge between the two concrete pillars as a sort of picture frame, this suggests the two characters are trapped and that their skirmish will have to be sorted in this confined space.