How tarantino utilises conventions of the thriller Genre in Kill Bill Vol 2

 Tarantino utilises many types of conventions in the film Kill Bill volume 2, many of which relate to the thriller genre.      
      One of the most obvious ways in which he uses aspects of thriller is through the use of light. At one point during the film, minutes before the bride gets buried alive, Tarantino utilised the generic use of headlights in the dark. This is an example of chiaroscuro lighting which connotates unreality, nightmares and surrealism as it refers to old painting techniques, It also heightens the enjoyment for the audience as the light on dark contrast is visually pleasing. The headlights connotate threat and mystery as we are unsure who is in the car adding suspense and anticipation to the scene. Another way Tarantino used light was through the moon giving strong gothic connotations, the gothic moon lit up the brides face creating a low key light, creating an essence of mystery and making a clear reference to film noir.

      The location of the film is extremely isolated and remote making the bride look disorientated, lost and venerable. In the scene where the bride attempts to kill Bill's brother there is grungy, shabby looking caravan which implies that Bill's brother is "trailer-trash". Tarantino also uses the location and setting to make reference to "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" which i shall be later exploring when I look at the intertexual reference within the film.

      Coffin scene is the most notable thriller scene as it uses almost all aspects of the thriller genre. The bride is literally buried alive creating an extremely claustrophobic atmosphere which clearly connotates entrapment. When the bride is buried the screen becomes black and sound plays a big part in heightening the experience for the viewers. We are able to hear the diegetic sound of the mud falling onto the coffin which adds large amounts of realism to the film. The realism is used to bring the audience into the action and to make

them feel like they too are etrapped. 

      Another way Tarantino utilises thriller conventions is through specific camera angles within the scene. For example when Bills Brother returns to his carvan Taratino uses a birds eye shot of him making him look small, the birds eye shot in this case is used to alert the audience that this character is a "low-life" and also gives the audience the impression that- like the bride, they too are spying on him. Also another common thriller convention Tarantino has used within the film is the use of close up. The close up has been used essentially to show the true emotion within the characters, the emotion often being fear and hate with the brides character.  
     Tarantino has used Intertexual reference in Kill Bill by using Morricones soundtrack "Ecstasy of Gold" which is also used in the Sergio Leonie film The good, the bad and the ugly. When the soundtrack is used in The good, the Bad and the Ugly; Blondie and the "bad" and the "ugly" are having a three way duel and we are made aware that Blondie is a highly intelligent hero who can do whatever he wants. When the music is used in Kill Bill Volume 2 the Bride is being beaten up, however the music in reference to The good, the bad and the ugly suggests and almost foreshadows that she, like Blondie, is a hero and can do anything in the end. This reference not only shows Tarentino's respect for Leonie but also acts as an ironic comment on "the bads" and "the uglies" who try to defeat the Bride in Kill Bill.

                   



Here are two short clips showing when the two films use the track. The reference of music also reflects the changing attitudes towards women and womens roles over the last 40+ years. The bride now has the role that is traditionally male in an action thriller which could loosely link in with the idea of the modern Femme Fatale.

       There are also some simularities in the location and props. For example "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" is located in an isolated desert and briefly shows the grave yard whilst in Kill Bill Vol 2 the bride is captured by Bills brother in an very isolated area then later buried in a grave yard.