Narrative codes appropriate to the killing

Narrative codes appropriate to the killing

Neale's theory is genre is instances of repetition and differences. This is shown in the killing as it follows the conventions of other film noir movies. Except there is no narration and the main detective is female.
However 'The Killing's' main differences shares some repetitions to what is normally expected with the enigma being followed by a detective but the main detective is a female in Sarah Linden, who are normally presented to be sexualised , which 'The Killing' only shows briefly through the use of Rosie Larsen however through this is combated through the normal presentation of Sarah Linden (the props used to describe what Rosie Larsen may have been doing when she died). Along with this there is no narration/voiceover within 'The Killing'.


Todorov's theory is followed in the Killing through the different stages followed.
Equilibrium: The main detective has a simple life and is moving country.

Disruption of equilibrium: A child goes missing.

Recognition of disruption: The detective doesn't move she stays to focus on the case.

Attempt to repair damage: They go on an investigation.


Strauss theory is binary opposites drive the narrative forward. We can see this in the killing as its a detective trying to catch a criminal.The use of men and women help drive the narrative forward as they both provide counter arguments which lead to an overall outcome on what they should do next (every man comes with a woman and every woman comes with a man - evident in the two main detectives, the main politician and his assistant and the parents of Rosie).

Knights  theory is the thrill equals the prolonging of the inevitable, as shown in the Killing as we have no information on who killed her or how. The thrill is the concept of enigma which is evident through "the Killing' in the politicians and the murder itself. The thrill of who will win the election along with the who is really behind the murder, why they killed her, how they killed and whether they will catch the man they are chasing