Taken (Kidnapping Scene)

Key Character Types:

• The key protagonist has lots of advanced/specialised equipment to monitor phone calls and to analyse them. This indicates that he has a trained background in the police force or some other form of undercover work. The protagonist having this trained background is stereotypical of protagonists in the thriller genre as in many other thriller films the key protagonist has been trained and had a past in the military or police etc. 
• The cross cutting between the key protagonist and the female character indicates some sort of close relationship between them because of how upset and heartbroken the protagonist looks when the girl is kidnapped. This could represent a father and daughter relationship between the two characters which would explain why the protagonist was so worried and caring for the female who was about to be kidnapped.
• Audience doesn't actually see the key antagonist/s but sees their bottom halves and hears their voices. The idea that the audience isn't able to see their faces provides the element of mystery and tension. Both of these are stereotypical of the thriller genre and the stock narrative in thriller films.
• Protagonist speaks about his "set of skills" when threatening the antagonist over the phone. This backs up the idea of him having a trained background which is conventional of thriller films.
• Zoom in on protagonists recording equipment to signify his trained background and that he is used to tense situations and knows how to deal with antagonists.
• Audience hears antagonist speak in a different language which gives insight into the narrative and the antagonists background.

Stock Characters:

• The stock characters in the film would most likely be the rest of the girl who got kidnapped's family and friends. They would be upset about her being taken and would want to try and find her and get her back. 

Narratives and Stock Situations:

The main female character is hiding from people under the bed which indicates the idea that she is going to be kidnapped. Kidnapping is a conventional narrative of the thriller genre because a bad situation has occurred and this situation has been caused by the antagonist. It is then up to the protagonist to stop the antagonist. In this film the protagonist is the father who has to save his daughter before it's too late and the antagonist is her kidnapper. 

The film begins with something bad happening that the antagonist has caused and will most likely end with the protagonist resolving the situation or the protagonist failing and the antagonist winning. In this case the protagonist will either find his daughter (the female being kidnapped) and save her, or he wont find her in time and something bad will happen to her e.g. she is killed by the antagonist.

Genre and Iconography:

• The protagonists spy equipment is iconic of the thriller genre in the idea that he has in the past been involved in some sort of secret or defense work. This is a common aspect of the genre.
• The character of the young female girl is iconic of the thriller genre because this signifies that she is vulnerable and can't take care of herself which means she is in danger and may need the protagonists help. The thriller genre often includes young female characters who are at risk of attack, they usually play the victim of the antagonist.

Themes of the Genre:

• The girl hiding under the bed as the antagonist gets closer and closer makes the audience feel suspense like they are waiting for something to happen. Tension and suspense are both common themes of the thriller genre. This makes the audience sit on the edge of their seats because they know something is going to happen but don't know when or what.