Media languages and forms

Conventions of Action: The typical conventions of an action film is that there is action in it. There is always a violent scene in the film which is the film's most energetic and upbeat scene. In an action film there is always a problem or a situation which the protagonist has to solve.

Subversion of the conventions: There are not many things that subvert the action genre as they are seen to be as action packed with everything in them such as violent scenes, romantic scenes etc. However, the subversion of the genre would be that the different race and colour of people that you get in action films such as brown people.

Non-verbal structure of meaning: The consequences of drugs (steroids) are seen in the film when Ricci Hartnett abuses the drugs. His actions become more violent as he craves for the drug in the film.
The costume he wears is very 90 with the denim jeans and the black leather jacket. However, not all characters are wearing that costume, the characters that are wealthy in the film are dressed in old cut suits.
The facial expressions are not seen much in the film because the director want the audience to focus on what their actions are rather than how they are felling. There are elements of when facial expressions are clear to the audience when Hartnett takes drugs for the first time.

Verbal structure of meaning: The language in the film is very cockney as the film is based in Essex. There is alot of swearing in the film and in some cases it shows that it is a patriarchal society as the men in the film talk down on the women and swear at them.

Settings: The setting of the film is based in Essex in the United Kingdom. However, there are a variety of different settings in the films such as clubs, pubs, houses and underground cellars. The underground cellars is a great use of setting as it brings enigmas in the audiences mind to what is this place? what do they do here? etc. The use of clubs and pubs shows the characters lifestyle and how they like to party and enjoy themselves alot of the time. finally, The setting of the houses are used to hide drugs or fellow ICF members so that they do not get killed.

Soundtrack/language: The language in the film is English however it is colloquial as well. The reason for colloquial language is that it gives more of a feel to the audience as if it is really happening. The soundtrack in the film is mainly non digetic as the director possibly wanted the audience to hear every conversation that took place in the film with the sound of the gun shots.

Visual techniques: As the film is based in 90's and is of a true story not many visual effects were used. However, the most recognisable one was when our main protagonist took drugs for the first time in a club. This is were the audience was put into Hartnett's frame of mind as the camera started to drop side to side as if he was drunk and the camera also went blurry as if his vision was blinded. There are alot of medium shots on the violent scenes to show that audience all the action that is going on and how much pain the person is going through.