Essex BoysEssex Boys is a British crime thriller set in the county of its name. The film premiered on the 14th of July 2000 in London, released to a mere 54 screens in the United Kingdom with later theatrical releases in Australia, South Korea and Germany. The lack of any US release may be due to the small target audience as per the close ties with British culture. However, the film grossed £111,548 in the opening weekend with an overall gross of £441,128 in the UK. The film is directed by British film maker Terry Winsor written by himself and Jeff Pope, an Oscar nominated screenwriter. The film is also linked closely to the 2013 films Essex Boys: Retribution, written and directed by Paul Tanter and The Fall of the Essex Boys by the same director. All films are loosely based on December 1995 murders of two top drug barons and their driver in Rettendon, Essex, UK.

The plot follows Billy, an entry-level criminal which has recently gain entry into the local crime circuit, and his first job which involves him driving Jason. Jason, recently released from prison takes it upon himself to tech Billy about crime, drugs and women. However, Billy seeks the affection of Jason's wife, Lisa. When a drug deal goes wrong, Jason seeks revenge on the boss and Billy plots to take out Jason which result in a bloodbath.

The film only manages 6.1/10 on the website IMDb and a mere 17% on rotten tomatoes. Although receiving largely negative reviews from critics, the average view reviews seem to paint the film in a more positive light, giving the film in place among other gritty British crime cult classics such as Layer Cake and RocknRolla.

‘No-one trusts anyone else, and someone is doing something horrible to someone else at all times.’

- Michael Thomson, writing for the BBC film reviews (13 July 2000)

How does Terry Winsor establishes the thriller genre in the title sequence of “Essex Boys” (2000)?

CharactersRight from the offset of this film we are introduced to two of the main characters, Billy Reynolds the newbie get away driver and the infamous criminal veteran Jason Locke. We are introduced to the status of these characters in the first moments of the film. Billy is to learn the criminal ins and outs from Jason whom is far more experienced, revealed as its mentioned that he has just been released from doing a stint in prison for armed robbery. The stark sense of status and power Locke has over Billy foreshadows a number of criminal activities in which Billy will be guided by Locke. This creates suspense and anticipation causing the audience to get an idea of the what sort of things the duo will get up to and the chaos this will cause, all of the effects are staples in the thriller genre to give it the ‘thrill’ that gives the genre its name.

Billy is introduced as the narrator and the subject in which the audience will experience the action throughout the film. Narrators are often used to sway the audience into identifying with this character and in tern, take their side if a situation occurs when you are forced to chose to support one character or the other. Especially in terms of criminal activity, the audience are more likely to support the narrator even if they would not ordinarily support their actions as they are in fact illegal, turning them into what's referred to as an antihero- described as a protagonist who lacks conventional heroic qualities such as idealism, courage, and morality. In this film, this will ultimately come down to Billy and JasonLocke. This reveals that the creator of the film has a plan to manipulate the audience into supporting Billy intentionally. The antihero is a conventional character in the thriller genre and the use of then establishes aspects of the genre, especially in crime thrillers such as Essex Boys.

The character of Jason Locke is introduced through the view of the windscreen, a point of view shot, as seen by Billy. The fact that he is seen through the windscreen suggests that he and Billy are to be distanced from each other and perceived as two completely separate characters, morally speaking. Locke is on the outside of society which has connotations to a sociopath, anticipating his lack of remorse as he is able to commit horrific crimes. The windscreen is also dirty which suggest the same of Locke, referring to his dark and troubled past. Hinting to Billy that he should stay away as he may end up the same. The ‘thug’ archetype that these characteristics point to are typical of the thriller genre, all of which Winsor has used to establish the genre right from the opening scene.

Lighting and Opening CreditsSimilarly to the crime thriller ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ Billy, the somewhat innocent character (much like Eve, the innocent Femme Fatal in Once Upon a Time) directly turns on a light which then quickly floods the dimly lit space. This may be used to suggest lightness to the character as the provided light to an otherwise dark room, darkness having connotations to evil and danger. This also enables the director to create the iconic thriller technique of chiaroscuro lighting. Both techniques were used in these films to prove prominence in establishing the thriller genre. When introduced to Locke he is stood outside the car were Billy is sat with the spotlight behind him, this draw parallels with images of ‘the grim reaper’. This suggests that Billy is being draw to ‘the darkness’ by Locke, also suggesting that Locke is to bring death to Billy. This foreshadows later events, a key thriller technique which is often used to establish the genre.

The opening credits are written in white on a black background, a film stock which is used to tie the thriller back to its black and white origins. This establishes the thriller genre immediately and informs the audience of the dark themes that the thriller explores. The film also opens with a section of information on the film and the events in which it is based, this is typical of a thriller as the audience are manipulated into relating to the material as the events are based on fact. The sense of reality now introduced is also particularly significant as this will create a new kind of paranoia. Thrillers often use text in the opening sequence often in the form of real life connotations or a proverb that connects in some way to the theme of the film. The Quentin Tarantino film ‘Kill Bill Vol.1’ uses a proverb which foreshadows later events in the film, therefore creating anticipation. This establishes the thriller genre whilst creating paranoia by the realisation of the reality of the film and can also create suspense as the audience are introduced to a taste of the motivations or themes of the film. In the case of ‘Kill Bill’ the audience can expect actions of revenge which may also encourage them to imagine action and gore that are typical with revenge thrillers. When Billy is driving through the tunnel the lights line up to form bars across his face. This resembles bars of a prison which may suggest he will end up there due to the crimes he is about to commit, this develops Billy's character as the audience are introduced to him as someone who happened upon the lifestyle and doesn’t really know what he is doing. However this suggests that will has a darker side which is capable of horrific crimes.

Location and Camera AnglesThe opening scene is located in an enclosed parking garage. The place is dark and show obvious signs of abandonment as Billy makes his way through cobwebs in order to get to a car. This gives a sense of isolation which is a classic thriller location, ideal for the criminal activities that crime thrillers are based around. The theme of isolation is also emphasised when Billy enters the car, here he is completely cut off from the world around him which mimics the disconnected criminal world of which he is a part of.When Billy and Locke travel in the car the camera follows with a tracking shot close behind them. This causes an enigma effect as the audience are left to question where they may be going. Also hinting at the idea of someone following the pair, maybe even a police car or another criminal boss wanting to ‘take out’ Locke. This may therefore suggest the event of

The location is also established which is a key factor in the film, the wet pavement which is a typical thriller effect and will refer to the stereotypical British weather. The sense of mystery is also another thriller convention used to establish the genre. The shot then turns to face the open end of the tunnel. This, like the garage, uses the typical thriller location of an isolated are with little natural light. This just further highlights how the criminal world that the two are a part of is disconnected from the real world. The tunnel also resembles a barrel of a gun which refers to their criminal activity, also foreshadows the use of guns in the film. The establishes the thriller genre as the audience are made aware of the extent of criminality Locke is a part of and suggests he is a dangerous man able to commit crimes such as murder. As well as foreshadowing later events, this also promotes fear and uneasiness in the audience as they are sure to witness horrific things. Both of which are crucial in a thriller film and therefore establishes key themes within the genre effectively.

this later in the film, the audience are put in this position to perhaps emphasis with the follower opposed to Billy and Locke. The effect is to create a sense of a ‘chase’ which is used to induce suspense and fear leaving the audience to guess if the criminals will get caught, the ‘chase’ aspect has been used in numerous thriller films to create such tension, some notable examples include 1984 The Terminator, 2002 Catch Me if You Can and the iconic Bourne Series. All of which use these aspects to introduce the thriller genre, similarly to the connotations in Essex Boys.

Billy and Locke continue on to the famous Essex marsh, this establishes location and provides a secluded location in which Locke dumps the man he has taken hostage. We are given the sense that Locke intends to leave him for dead as there is nowhere in sight where the man, whom is badly injured, can run to. The desolate backdrop can be a metaphor for the absence of remorse that Locke feels for his crimes. Alsosuggestive of the loneliness that he experiences in his life, especilally through the betrayal of the man whom he is dumping for sending him to prison. This establishes Locke as a vengeful and sadistic character, favourable in introducing the thriller genre as the audience will follow him in his quest of revenge and sadistic crimes.