How does Essex Boys use British signifiers and thriller technique to establish the audience expectations?

The first scene in the film is set in a dark, run down garage. This uses the technique of building up an audience's expectation of a thriller theme. The dark lighting and use of cobwebs also adds to this affect. The bright harsh lighting outside contrasts with the darkness in the garage which could also suggest a contrast in good and evil, implying that he has a good and bad side. This brings out an anti-hero character which is commonly used to film noirs. Essex Boys uses many film noir or neo-noir techniques - for example, the greyness and dullness of the film - to portray the theme of thriller and crime.

This is the first time we see Jason, and the fact that there is a blinding white harsh light behind him creates a sense of deception which is often used for thrillers. The way he is standing as if he has appeared from the light could suggests that he is a good guy as it gives a halo affect, which we soon find out isn't true.  Also the bright yellow shirt, and long black leather jacket contrast against eachother to build on the deception of the film. His outfit shows a classic eastend ganster's style, which signifies the Essex theme, and establishes to the audience what type of people they will expect to see throughout the film.

The darkness surrounding the tunnel suggests that there is only one way to go, and there is no way of Billy getting out of it. The use of claustrophobic space is used in the tunnel, and is often used in thrillers to create a sense of panic as there is no way out. The green light that appears through the tunnel represents evil, and gives the audience a clue to expect from the film.

This view of Billy and Jason through the wind screen includes long white bars of light overlapping the image. They could represent a prison, suggesting that they are behind the prison bars. This gives the audience a clue to what may happen during the film, implying that Billy, or Billy and Jason perhaps will end up arrested. The darkness in this scene, again builds on the thriller as it creates a sinister feeling. The lights outside suggest that all the goodness is trapped outside of the car.

  When they arrive at the fish market, Jason immediately begins beating up another man. This brings out the theme of crime into the film, and gives the audience an idea of what the thriller is about. The fact that they are surrounded by dead fish could bring comedy into the film for some types of audience. This also sets the scene of a typically English working area.

This shot shows the view from Billy who is in the white van. It shows how we are seeing everything from his point of view; therefore we begin to relate to him. Also the voice over adds to this affect as Billy becomes the male protagonist character, which is commonly used in thrillers or film noirs. The fast that Jason always seems to be higher up during the fight suggests that he is the type of character that is always violent and in control.

This long shot of the English beach indicates the English landscape, and the dull, grey darkness of the clouds signifies the typical view on English weather. The dullness also adds to the negative feel of the scene, as they have just dropped of the beaten up man in the middle of nowhere. This shot contains a view of the white van in the background. A white van is a classic vehicle that creates a untrustworthy atmosphere. The fact that the man is so small that you can hardly see him, suggests that he is completely insignificant in the film.