Shot Sequence from Sin City

Shot 1

Low-key lighting, black and white, MCU. High angle shot and wooden panels for background show he is lying on the floor, this makes the man appear very weak and vulnerable and also suggests he has been injured.
He is pointing a gun upwards, as if about to aim, suggesting someone is above him. The gun means he is either attacking someone or defending himself. His hand is holding his ear, possibly because he is trying to block out the sound of the gunshot, or because of an injury.

Shot 2

High angle, low-key lighting, black & white, LS. We now see a man standing over the lying man. The standing man also has a gun and is pointing it directly at the lying man, the high angle shows the standing man has more power and makes the lying man seem even more defenceless. We now see that the man is lying on a pier, this makes him more vulnerable as if the standing man was to kill him, he could dispose of the body easily and quickly by throwing it in the sea. The lying man has changed position slightly - no longer holding his ear, this could be because he is no longer planning to shoot as the other man has threatened him.

Shot 3

ELS, black & white, and low-key lighting. Now there are 2 men standing, making the lying man even more vulnerable as he is outnumbered and on the floor. One man is leaning over him menacingly, as if he is shouting at him, and the lying man has his knees bent upwards, as a form of defence. The man further left looks like the boss, he is wearing long black coat, which makes him seem more threatening. Also, he’s standing back, as if getting the other guy to do his dirty work. The “Boss’s” left hand is raised – it is unclear, but he could be talking into a mobile phone, or walkie-talkie further implying that he is the boss. The sky is dark and cloudy showing it is night, making the scene scarier and more eerie. You can see dim lights in the background from buildings and boats but they seem very far away, so the lying man is very isolated. We can now also see a girl on the edge of the pier, suggesting she has been kidnapped and that maybe the lying man came as an attempt to rescue her.

Shot 4

LS, black & white, low-key lighting, same angle as the previous shot but zoomed in, a tighter frame, this increases the tension of the sequence. Now only one standing man, directly pointing a gun at the lying man’s head, as if about to shoot. The standing man’s long coat is flared out, so it must be windy. This adds to the eerie dark weather which directly reflects an eerie scene. Additionally the flowing coat makes the man seem all the more powerful, dominant and frightening
We can see the girl in the shadows still her head is bowed, as if she could be crying, or looking away as she doesn’t want to see the man be killed.

Shot 5

CU, black & white, and there is low-key lighting. The girl is very young only about 7 years old, and she is crying. This is most likely because the lying man (who she may know) is about to be shot or has been shot, and also because she is scared and lonely and probably the victim of a kidnapping. She is looking longingly slightly downwards and her line of sight indicates she could be looking at the lying man, implying they have a connection.

Shot 6

ELS, black & white, and there is low-key lighting. The lying man no longer has his knees up, implying he could have just been shot. One standing man is sitting on one of the poles, making it a less intense situation as he is no longer being threatened and threatening the man. Both men have their hands in their pockets. This relaxed pose suggests it hasn’t fazed them at all, implying they witnesses murder regularly and have done it all before. The smoky background enhances the sinister atmosphere making the photo more atmospheric and eerie.


At first we read the images by making assumptions as to what the story is and how it will turn out. The director has greatly varied the shot types, distances and angles. He has done this to give more information to the audience but not all at once, nothing is made completely obvious, things become clearer slowly – this way the audience stays interested and the suspense and tension are built up to make the experience more thrilling and exciting.