Motifs in Thrillers

In Pulp Fiction (1994) the use of bathrooms are used as a motif through the film. For example, When Vincent and Mia are at Jack Rabbit Slims, Mia says she's going to the bathroom to "powder her nose" when in actual fact she is snorting cocaine. It shows her real corrupted life and how she has to use normal phrases and turn them into abusive behaviour. Bathrooms are used in the film to show peoples real behaviour and how it affects their lives and the people around them. Another example is in the motel room with Butch and Fabienne. The extended scene of Butch in the shower while Fabienne brushes her teeth shows that on the surface they have a normal life, however later on Fabienne is alone in the Bathroom brushing her teeth showing how quickly she can have someone by her side and then they are gone. Bathrooms are also a motif for Vincent in the film. He finds a bloody towel when entering Jimmy's bathroom which could imply that his life is dangerous because and that finding a bloody towel is normal. However later on in the film, as Vincent walks out of the bathroom Butch kills him. This could imply that the earlier scene of him finding the towel could have foreshadowed his death in a bathroom and the towel being soaked with his blood. 

Another motif, specifically for one film is the green light in The Great Gatsby (2011). It has been used to show Gatsby's intentions in the film, and what he wants most of all; Daisy. It has been used by Gatsby's perspective. He tries to reach it, but is always too far away to actually have it, representing his relationship with Daisy. The green colour represents envy and jealousy as it signifies how Gatsby is jealous of the green light because it's closer to Daisy than he is.