127 Hours Spoiler Review

I chose to do a spoiler review on 127 hour, a thriller based on a true life event. The film is based on real life canyoneer, Aron Ralston. Aron got trapped between by a bolder in an isolated slot canyon in the Blue John Canyon, in Utah, back in April 2003. The film is written by Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy and includes the actor James Franco, who was rated best actor. During this film, Aron Ralston visits the canyons in Utah, and meets two young, Kristi and Megan. He gives these two girls a tour through the Robbers Roost narrow canyons and takes a blind jump into an underground pool. After the two young girls have left, Ralston decides to cut down his tour book journey. By doing this, he continues into the Blue John Canyon which contains narrow canyons and boulders. As Aron decends into one of these narrow canyons, one of the boulders is jarred loose and traps one of his arms between the walls of the canyon and the boulder. Ralston spends the next 127 hours running low on water and lack of food. This makes Ralston go delirious and he decides to attempt to cut through his flesh, arteries and snap his arm in order to escape. Eventually, Aron Ralston managed to escape by cutting off his arm, and takes a picture of the boulder that trapped him in order for people to discover what had happened to him. As he stumbles and zig zags across the dessert he finds a family which ring for help, shortly returning Ralston to safety.

I find this film fits the iconography of a typical thriller film in a unique way as it is actually based on a true story. For example, the film includes the idea of inclosed spaces. During the whole film, the main character is trapped in a narrow canyon, this creates tension in the audience as the wish to know if he escapes or not, which makes them want to continue to watch the film. The weather in this film also creates suspense and mystery in this film. During the day, it is extremely hot. Whilst this kind of weather harbingers the feeling of hope that the main character may be came across by tourists passing, it also creates fear of the lack of hydration around the main character and a hell like feeling due to the extreme heat and small chance of survival. The weather in the evening also predicts lack of safety as the temperatures drop drastically. This creates more tension in the audience as the main character could possibly freeze to death. As well as the weather, the film use typical iconography of shadows. The shadow of the bird circling Ralston throughout the early mornings create tension between the audience and the character as the eagle could convey lack of freedom. Shadows also create a sense of mystery however, the shadow also suggest a presents which could also suggest presents of some help. The bird also makes sound which in one way could reassure the audience that the main character is not alone whilst it also creates the idea of danger as the creature present cant actually help at all. I rate this film 4.5/5.