127 Hours

Director: Danny Boyle

Writers: Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy

Original novel author: Aron Ralston

Stars: James Franco, Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn

Aron (Franco) goes on a weekend rock climbing trip; and doesn’t tell any of his family and friends where he is going. He’s arm becomes trapped by a boulder and the film follows his struggle to survive.

“Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing frequent action”

The whole film kept me clinging to my seat; there is constant action and tense moments. At the start we see how Aron’s life was before the accident and how active he is, as he’s walking though and following his hand along the rocks we the audience are constantly waiting for his hand to get caught, however sadistic that sounds.

When his hand gets caught between the side and the boulder Aron first panics and desperately calls for help, as any human being would, but his call for help fails. Aron is constantly trying to move this rock and comes up with many plans to do so. We see the character lose his sane state of mind during the middle of the film; and towards the end is when he decides the only way to get out is to cut out his arm.

 

“Devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliff hangers”

Suspense is created first when we the audience are waiting for Aron’s hand to get caught, just clinging to our seats waiting. Then when he’s cutting off his arm in order to survive and get out of there we’re watching in horror and wondering: is he going to do it?

At the start of the film there are many opportunities where Aron could have got his arm trapped, Boyle uses these red herrings to mislead us and keep the audience stuck to the screen waiting...

The end of the film we see Aron get free from the boulder and trying to get help, he’s walking in the desert looking for help all seems bleak until he sees three figures in the distance and they get help. More help arrives and then emergency forces finally, after the uncertainty, Aron is rescued.