Research- Other Students Work

Chloe Mar-Gerrison

Thriller

- Begins as a black background with the studio title on. The red and white fonts work well in contrast with the black background. The font is serif which suggests that perhaps this opening is a little more old-fashioned and not as geometrical as if it was sans serif.
- Black and white video at the back of the character brushing her hair. The music begins but it is very dark, not percussive and very thrilling. The credits presented are at the very bottom of the shot in white typewriter font which allows it to not detract attention from the extract but important enough to contrast well with the black and white theme of the filming.
- Close up of the make-up on the stand and the character grabbing it allows me to understand that the character is feminine and getting ready for something. Because we have not identified the character yet, this is known as being mysterious due to the woman being unidentified and unknown regarding personality and appearance.
- The camera pans across the table with the make-up and of the character painting her nails. Because it is black and white, we are unsure of the colour of the nails which could represent something. Due to this naivity regarding this, it becomes even more exhilirating and thrilling to me.
- An extreme close up of the painting of the nails then becomes significant and the music becomes slightly louder and much more thrilling. No dialogue or any sort of identification has been apparent yet and this creates a gloomy atmosphere.
- Another extreme close up of the character blowing on her nails is now shown and because we are able to see the characters mouth, a slight amount of identification is shown. This makes it even more mysterious as we still have not seen the complete face.
- There continues to be short shots of the character applying make-up such as mascara and lipstick.
- Then, there is a close-up of the characters phone displaying that there is a phone call with no caller ID. The vibration of the phone creates a dark and sinister vibe as this is the only sound that has been presented yet apart from the non-diegetic music.
- There is now a shot of the characters' expression to the side and of her being a mixture of confused and shocked. This expression makes me feel more uncomfortable due to the naivity and that we have no knowledge of who is calling and whether it is dangerous.
- The character then ends the call without answering which is very thrilling and well done due to it showing either casuality or fear as there is some reason why she is refusing to answer.
- There is then a shot of the characters shoes walking up the stairs and a very sinister voice-over stating 'WE'RE HERE'. This is more of a convention of a horror movie due to it being very sinister and spooky, however it is still thrilling and deep so this is a convention of a thriller movie too. 
- There is a repeated shot of the character ending the call and another voice over stating 'WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID'. Although this is very well-made, it is much more horrifying instead of being thrilling and also very typical and common. 
- Dialogue then begins when the character answers the call displaying no caller ID. However, the voice is quite far away and distant so it is not exactly clear. Despite this, it also creates a tense atmosphere in the opening.
- More deep voice-overs occur.
- A repeat of the same dialogue from the character occurs and we are now aware that the situation is dangerous, especially as the music continues and becomes more eerie and sinister.
- The scene then ends with a character in a black hoodie which is covering his identity appears in the room and the female character is clearly shocked. The shock, however, is quite artificial and not at all convincing which is a weakness in this opening.
- The last scene is of the phone displaying that the call is still ongoing and then a voice from the phone states 'MARK MY WORDS, YOU WILL PAY.' This is very horrifying and sinister.

The strengths of this opening would be definitely the multiple amount of camera angles used and the black and white effect in editing which made it much more thrilling and inviting. I enjoyed watching the extreme close-ups in the beginning of the character applying make-up and ending the calls.
The weaknesses, however, is definitely the scene when the hooded character enters the room and the female character is not at all convincing that she is terrified. Also, the extract seemed much more horror-based instead of being a thriller movie due to its extreme sinister and alarming features.
- The title 'MARK MY WORDS' links to the last word of the extract and is a very thrilling title. This is because it is short yet effective which is typical in thriller films. The title shows that threatening theme in the extract and allows the audience to understand that the film has elements of threat and thrill.

Blog

-This students blog is very well organised and neat. It displays clear tabs so that her work and progress is very easy to find and identify. For example, in the tab 'PLANNING' at the top of the blog, it clearly presents all of the process of her planning. It includes her filming schedule, her risk assessments and various other plans such as her shot plan and costume plan. This can easily be read due to her writing being minimal but detailed and multiple screenshots being presented in every post. This balance makes her blog very easily understood and is very inspiring.
This students' blog is grammatically correct which includes her punctuation and spelling being perfect. Her fonts are the same on each blog post as well as sizes and layout. Her layout is very well organised due to her planning being in bulletpoints or short paragraphs. This is better than it being in very long and tedious paragraphs as this would be very overwhelming and boring.
Another good thing that this student did was that they showed a clear representation of their audience research/questionnaire. This questionnaire is very helpful as I can find out what typical audience want and enjoy about thriller movies and what I should avoid.



































 

Research - Other Students Work

Guy Nicholson

Thriller 

- Beginning includes a sudden loud boom.
- Sans serif font with yellow and white - stands out against the plain black background
- Long shot/extreme long shot of the model standing at the side of the shot with his back to the camera, on top of an unknown roof as the background shows buildings from above.
- The title appears beside the model in a sans serif, capital, black font which reinforced moderinity and is a typical convention of a thriller film.
- Ambient sound of the wind creates an eerie, mysterious atmosphere
- Close up of hand clenching into a fist, the title of the film appearing in white which contrasts well with the background. The title "THE HUNT" is short and catchy and appears to fit in with the usual minor titles in thriller films.
- Fades to black and piano music begins abruptly with percussion which enforces thriller films as they typically start not so thrilling and gradually fit into the genre.
- An image of a small window in darkness with a minimal sunlight entering the room appears and the text informing the audience of the director also appears. The text is white, a type-writer type of font and contrasts very well with the black background. This is plain, modern and angular as well as it being geometric due to it being sans-serif.
- Cuts to a shot of a character walking down a dark, gloomy hallway. The shot is quite difficult to interpret due to the focus being slightly off and the lighting to be too dark. Texts informing the audience of the names of the actors included is displayed at the side of the shots and they follow the type-writer font and are white, continuing with the modern geometric theme.
- The piano and violin music continues and as time continues, the opening becomes more eerie and distorted due to the dull, dark shots included.
- A slow pan of a seemingly abandoned building appears. The building is edited so it is in black and white and this is a typical convention of a thriller film. The inside of the building includes graffiti, broken glass and furniture and a dirty floor. It is unclear of the location of this, however it just adds to the mysterious aspect to this opening thriller.
- Quickly cuts to the next scene which is a low angle shot of a character walking. The camera follows him walking through an eerie, narrow corridor. The costume of the character is a navy blue suit which enforces a type of business which is a typical convention of thriller films.
- Fades to black and goes back to the abandoned building. The man then walks past the camera and begins walking down the stairs. 
- The next shot is of him walking again with graffitied walls in the background, which say 'I SEE YOU'. This is a blatant thrilling aspect which adds to the mystery and exhiliration.
- The fades to black continue throughout these shots of the character walking.
- The next shot is of him walking still with the camera following from behind over the characters shoudler. Due to this being handheld, it is fairly shaky but could add to the paranormal aspect of the thriller. The location continues being the abandoned building and graffitied white walls, broken furniture and dim lighting is apparent throughout these scenes.
- The character has their hood up which reinforces a sense of mystery and unidentity as well as them carrying a backpack. This could suggest they have weapons or drugs which would be typical for a thriller film to include.
- Then the soundtrack begins to gain more bass as it becomes a crescendo. This crescendo is typical as many thriller films have them due to the suspense and exhiliration.
- There is a quick pan from up a staircase to down. This just allows the audience to witness more of the location the opening is mainly taking place in.
- The next shot is much lighter which juxtaposes against the previous shots which are black and white. The music continues but due to the lighting being much more apparent, the thrilling side of it dissolves so this could be a weakness in this opening.
- It is suddenly black and white and gloomy again which completely juxtaposes the lighter shot and this could be negative as the brightness of the previous shot is confusing contrasting to the rest of the shots being very dark. 
- It is then a close up of the characters back removing his blazer. He is stood facing a window which allows natural lighting to seep through and create a good sense of lighting in this shot.
- Close up of him rolling up his sleeves usually suggests danger and that he may get his hands dirty due to some sort of risky (perhaps illegal) work.
- Low angle shot of the character putting a mask on. This mask is important in the shot and a really good strength in this opening. This is because it clearly shows a sense of hiding identity and dangerous work. 
- In the same continuous shot, it presents the character then putting on gloves. These, just like the mask, are important and a strength in the film as they suggest murder or hiding fingerprints, therefore reinforcing the fact it is thrilling, dangerous, and probably illegal.
- The title 'THE HUNT' is short, snappy and allows the audience to understand the genre of the film as a thriller. Because it is very short, this links in with the other thriller films I have analysed. Because I have researched other thriller film openings, I know that the majority do have short, snappy titles. It also has a sinister and thrilling theme to this as 'HUNT' means a search for something and due to being animalistic, it links to being dangerous and perhaps deadly.

 Blog

This students blog is extremely well presented and detailed. His blog presents every aspect he has completed in the process of creating his thriller opening. His blog is well tagged so it is easy to find all of his blogging work and how he has improved and developed his process of filming and editing. His planning is very well thought out and in a detail. He has not overwhelmed the blog with too much writing but enough to be able to write about the whole process of the thriller opening. He has multiple screenshots to illustrate and prove how he has improved his work.
He has included reviews he has found which allows me to see how people see his opening and improvements he could have made. This allows me to understand what is important to include in my thriller opening as well as my planning.
This students' blog is very neat and organised, displaying the right font, size and layout throughout each of his posts. He has proofread these posts very well due to no spelling mistakes or incorrect grammar, which allows me to understand that this is important in blogs to be able to understand and develop my project.


 


 

Analysis of Thriller Openings - Black Swan

Black Swan

At the beginning of this extract, a shot of the protagonist is dancing whilst high-pitched string non-diegetic music commences. This music is an anti-stereotype for a thriller as it is not dark, low or non-percussive. Despite this, after a few seconds in, a new type of music is layered over this music and the new sound is very low and chilling which adds to the narrative enigma. This is stereotypical for thriller films as the convention is that low sounding music is layered to add to the exhilaration of the film. The man (supposedly the protagonist) is dancing as a ballerina, an odd dance for somebody who is male. This adds to the mystery of who the man is - and this is also a convention of thriller films as the majority of these have males as their protagonist due to their capability and strength. Despite this, as the music turns into a much deeper and darker tone, the audience possibly assumes the man to be an antagonist. Low key lighting is used - a typical convention for thriller films. This allows the ballet dancer to be depicted as someone who is not necessarily good. It also adds to the suspicion of why she is there and why she is dancing in a dark room. The use of shadows in the room also allow it to be mysterious and confusing for the audience, raising numerous amounts of questions. However, it allows the audience to focus primarily on her as she is the main character. Once this scene ends, it is then clear that the whole scene was in fact a dream as there is the main character in a close up who states that the whole thing was a dream. This adds to mystery due to the person she is speaking to is unknown. This makes us question the character's mental state due to us not even knowing if anyone is there at all. This is due to the abundance of close ups and long shots of her or the room other than another character. This allows there to be a built up tension and the audience to be questioning whether the main character is in fact speaking to somebody or her to be unstable enough to talk to herself.

To add onto the beginning scene of the ballet dancer, her costume consists of a white dress. The colour of white defines innocence and purity which suggests she is, in fact, a good character in the film and that she is nothing to be afraid of by others. To contrast with this, the man who appears is wearing a black costume which is extremely different to the woman's costume colour. This suggests that he is opposite to her and that the black colour connotes devilish personality and evil. As well as this, his movements are presented as aggressive and oppressive against the protagonist which suggests she and him have a patriarchal relationship and that they are polar opposites of each other.

As the woman dances, there are numerous amounts of shots capturing the way she moves. Close-ups of the bottom part of her body are used to demonstrate her graceful dancing - contrasting to the male's violent manner. She is also represented as the main character due to the camera being on her at all times, showing that she is the protagonist and therefore significant to the plot. Her movements begin to pick up in pace which could refer to the whole plot and that it is a quick paced story-line and that she is the most important to focus on. Continuing with this, more close ups are used and one of the most important would be the fact a mark is displayed on her back. This close up demonstrates the way the scar looks and makes the audience question why it is there. It may also make the audience question later whether it was the male character who inflicted that upon her, therefore going back to the idea that their relationship is very oppressive. Due to this, it increases tension and suspicion amongst the characters and allows the audience to continue watching, hoping for an answer to it.

As the extract continues, we are shown a set of dialogue between the protagonist and other woman. Shot reverse shots are used between them as it allows the audience to see both of their reactions and the way they are speaking to one another. We do not know straight off who the other woman is, however, we are quick to assume it is her mother or a close relation to her. This is reinforced by the fact the woman is helping the protagonist get ready. This is able to increase narrative enigma and mystery as we do not know the depth of their relationship and the audience is left to question how they feel about one another and if the woman (mother) is significant to the film's narrative.

As the scene continues, we are met with the protagonist being on a vehicle we think is a train. Simple cuts are used as we have multiple shots of the protagonist looking at another woman. Non-diegetic music occurs and due to the intensity of it, we assume this is a significant part to the film. We do not know how important the unknown girl is, however, we know that she has some element to the play and that the protagonist is interested in her.

I found the dance scene on YouTube and then watched my own copy of the film on TV for more content.

Analysis of Thriller Openings - Fargo

Fargo

At the opening of Fargo, it begins by displaying the production company - like most opening sequences of any film. Once these have been displayed on screen, it fades to black and there is a black background displaying a couple of sentences in a sans-serif white font. In these sentences, it informs the audience that the film is based on a true story. Out of respect, it allows the audience to understand that some of the characters in the film have died in real life. This is a good way of opening the film as it allows the audience to question what the narrative involves and how it relates to real life. The fact it is utilised may thrill the audience as it is real life made into a film. As well as this, it tells the audience of the location the film is set. The music has a rather traditional feel to it with no percussion and has a low tone to it. The fact this information is given lets the audience feel interested in the film and therefore want to see what occurs within. The mystery is also an effect used and is a typical convention of thriller films. 

Once this occurs, it fades to a grey background with titles layered over. The font is sans-serif and black with transitions which seem like they dissolve/fade. The black coloured font against the grey allows it to stand out as the grey is a light colour- which is a juxtaposition. Once this occurs, a straight cut happens and what is presented is a long shot of a bird. The bird is soaring in the sky from high up and increases the theme of loneliness/isolation. This is a key theme in thriller films and almost hints at the narrative. The non-diegetic music continues and gives a traditional, old feel to it that is rather chilling as it builds up and holds no real percussion. However, the tempo begins to build and this increases the sense of tension and the key element of mystery.

Once this has occurred, there is a new scene with the same snowy grey background which displays a car. However, it is very difficult to see as it is an extreme long shot. The car's headlights, however, are easily recognised as they juxtapose against the dreary colouring of the background. As well as this, there is ambient sound surrounding the scene as we are able to hear the sounds of unknown birds. The fact we only see one bird and one car adds to the isolated location and the fact it is cold and desolated. The sound of the non-diegetic music heightens as another shot is apparent. Yet another straight cut is included when there is the extreme long shot of the car driving closer to the camera. As the vehicle edges closer, the shot becomes much clearer and allows the audience to know exactly the type of car it is. As this is occurring, the music's volume increases and becomes much more percussive with a higher tone. As the car moves, there is a slow pan as it follows the vehicle. We are then able to confirm that the location is snowy and therefore cold, dark and sombre. The car is also seen as very cheap and run down like the weather which suggests an element of pathetic fallacy.  Once this has happened, the car disappears and the words 'FARGO' in a black sand-serif font appears on the screen. This is used to highlight the title of the film and due to it's placement on the screen, it is seen as a significant title. The transition then allows it to evaporate and allow the story to continue. The camera then pans and follows the vehicle yet again, allowing the audience to question the journey. The music continues to rise as the car continues to travel which highlights the importance of the car, despite the confusion of the audience as there is no real hint to the narrative other than the fact there is a journey.

Once the music ends with an odd sound of drums, the scene fades to black as well as the music. This increases the theme of mystery and allows the audience to question the importance of the car yet again. These first few minutes are confusing for the audience as there is no hint or any sort of action amongst people. This is an uncommon convention of thriller films as they usually start off straight to the point or build up. However, it is clear that in this opening, there has been no hinting.

Despite this, we are then met with a bright lighted scene, despite the location being at night. Bright neon lights are utilised which juxtaposes the previous scene. Due to this, it is clear that the shot is very static and inviting. There are also numerous pieces of ambient sound such as the sound of driving and snow. Then there is the sound of diegetic music coming from some sort of bar building. Then, there is a cut as a man (protagonist) enters the building. As we are presented with a couple of shots, it is clear that it is in fact a bar and there are numerous amounts of people littered around. The people are primarily men which is a typical convention of thriller films. There is low key lighting too which highlights the fact it could be a dangerous place as the atmosphere is very suspicious and alarming to the audience. As this occurs, the music's volume heightens and the audience is aware that the bar is a tense and risky place for the protagonist to be in. A significant mid shot of the said protagonist is presented to the audience as his expression is seen to be suspicious. We are also aware that the protagonist is wearing a suit, suggesting he is involved in business and working for other people.Others around him are wearing rather casual costumes. They are seen wearing jeans and sweaters which is not surprising due to the snowy atmosphere in previous shots. This also suggests that they are lower class than the protagonist and do not work with him or have any involvement to his job.

As the scene continues, we are faced with a numerous amounts of different types of shots so that we can hear dialogue occurring between the protagonist and other people we do not know of. These shots highlight the protagonist being unsure of how to react regarding the location and perhaps that he is the opposite of violent - an odd personality trait to thriller films. As the scene continues, we hear dialogue of some sort of get together amongst men including the protagonist. As the dialogue occurs, the audience understands that the protagonist does not dominate over the other men as he is seen as timid and opposed to confrontation. One of the men are seen to cut him off numerous amounts of time which also adds to his weak nature. 

As well as this, we are seen with the protagonist cowering down to the other men and saying sorry to them when he realises he was late to their meeting. This is a typical convention as there is clear discomfort between characters and heightens suspense - a key feature to thrillers.

Lastly, we are seen with an over the shoulder shot of the protagonist speaking to two other men. This allows the audience to understand the clear tension amongst the characters and shows that they are not in friendly relationships with one another. This could also be the fact they are all men and therefore have dominating personalities that conflict. This is also recognised by mise en scene as the empty alcohol bottles on the table show typical male behaviour as they get involved with drinking to show dominance. As well as this, multiple shot reverse shots are presented through dialogue so that the audience can see each of their expressions and reactions to the meeting. This adds to the narrative enigma as it is mysterious and suspicious, allowing the audience to want to continue watching to see what happens.

Analysis of Thriller Openings - The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

At the beginning of this opening, it presents the audience with the Warner logo. It is a grey metallic font over a very dark background which indicates that the rest of the film will be just as dark and thrilling. The background is rather cloudy and distorted which also suggests the films narrative will be just as odd. The logo is a well known logo so it makes sense to include it large so that audiences will know who produced it and therefore watch their other films. As well as this, it then displays another logo which states 'LEGENDARY'. This is also a metallic grey colour over a black background, allowing it to stand out. The dark colours allow the audience to recognise the film as a thriller. Just after this, the same metallic colour displays another logo which says 'DC COMICS', therefore explaining that the film is based of a comic that the audience may enjoy reading after watching the film. There is non-diegetic music which occurs throughout this display of logos and it is a rather deep, non-percussive soundtrack used. This is a common convention in thriller films as it really sets the scene and allows the audience to be on edge.

As the film commences, there is a mid-shot of a man speaking to an audience in front of a desk. The room is brightly lit which signifies that it is an important scene and that the man speaking is unlikely to be an antagonist. It is unknown by the audience who the man is at this point, however, as the scene continues, it is apparent that the man is speaking at a funeral or memorial service of a man who has died. The man is wearing a suit which also reinforces the fact the scene is a rather sombre one and that he is significant to the film. The suit allows the audience to believe that it is in fact a classy occasion and that the unknown man's death is a very significant plot for the film's narrative. There is non-diegetic music over the top which enforces the grave situation and also the fact it is an important part to remember. The music is very continuous and builds up in tempo which makes the audience on edge and believe that something bad could happen at any moment despite the atmosphere actually being calm and collected. 

As soon as the character in a suit stops speaking, there is a fade to black and the music also stops momentarily until another shot begins. The new music is then very loud and almost terrifying as we are presented with a mid-shot of two unknown characters pinning down aggressively another character. All of these characters are presented as middle-aged men and violent. This is a typical convention of thriller films as men are primarily seen as violent and dominant. The dialogue is excessive shouting as the two men are carrying guns and demanding to know information from the man who is lying down with some sort of material concealing his identity. The two aggressive men are wearing rather casual costumes consisting of trousers, shirts, and simple backpacks. The submissive character is difficult to see, however, seems to be wearing a similar costume. As the scene continues, we witness a close-up of the submissive character as the two other males are holding a gun to his head. This increases tension from audiences as the music continues to build up and we assume that the other man will be shot and killed. Guns are significant and typical props used in thriller films as they are used for violence and murdering others and this is a key theme in most thrillers.

After this, we hear another man speak, and the dialogue is very deep and almost scary. There is a mid-shot of a different character, clearly male, with a black hoodie. We are only presented with him with his back to the camera, and the two males before staring at him with their faces to the camera. The hooded man has his hands in handcuffs and due to him wearing a black outfit, the audience may assume he is an antagonist. The hooded character then speaks again, the dialogue even lower than before and we know quickly that he is a very significant character and may also be the protagonist. The two men ask the man who he is, clearly unaware of his identity at this time due to him also having material concealing his identity. This makes the film even more thrilling as the convention of mystery is utilised. 

There is then a shot reverse shot displaying the hooded man, then back to the violent man from before, and back to the hooded man. We are displayed with the violent character's emotion as it clearly illustrates confusion and maybe even fear, as he is perhaps trying to figure out the concealed man's identity. The music begins building in tempo as the white man reaches out to take off the material from the other character's head and the audience is then left to question who the man is and why he is significant to the plot. 

As this continues, the white male pulls off the concealed man's headgear in a close-up shot and reveals a heavy-built man in a lower angled shot. This man (Bane) is now being presented as extremely powerful as the audience is able to take in his terrifying, odd and striking appearance. It emphasises his power as the slow movements appear. The tension increases even more when the man confesses that his intentions were to crash the plane. This shocks the audience and illustrates just how powerful Bane is and how he could easily destroy things. The casual tone of his voice also indicates this as he seems laid-back about it, enforcing that he is a bad person but does not hold any sort of guilt for it. His eyes are wide in these close-up shots which show that he is not hiding his intentions and that he needs the Government agent to understand that he is not messing around. 

The audience is then left to realise that Bane is a psychotic and mentally unstable character who is the antagonist of the film. This is a typical convention of thriller films as the antagonist is seen as a psychotic villain who is eventually stopped by a protagonist. Bane's voice is also lifted in tone which represents him as being confident and certain of his own abilities. The audience then becomes fearful of the plane crash and questions whether it will actually happen or something else will prevent it from occurring. Whilst dialogue is occurring, there is a pan of the plane moving from a long shot which enforces fear that it may crash after Bane reveals his intentions. 

Ambient sounds of the plane is also heard which enforces the danger of flying and how the plane could crash at any given moment. Multiple long shots of the plane moving indicates how far it is from the ground and suggests that the Government agents on the plane would certainly die if it was to crash.

Analysis of Thriller Openings- Psycho

Psycho

Plot: Psycho tells the story of Marion Crane, who steals $40,000 from her employer. She leaves her home in Phoenix, Arizona and ends up at the Bates Motel in Fairvale, California. The motel is run by mother-fixated Norman Bates.

At the beginning of the film, there is a reverse fade to black with a title on the screen. The font displayed is white sans-serif and displays the composer name. Then, the said title disappears by using a pushed-off transition. This is a rather aggressive transition and may hint at the films' content as it could be a rather violent film. The transition also indicates the theme of cutting which is also a violent act and could be a significant theme in the film. This adds to the narrative enigma and could result in questions being asked by audiences. The non-diegetic music layered over the top of this is incidental. It is a built-up soundtrack and therefore creates a tense and suspenseful feeling. It has no real percussion or rhythm and is a rather high-pitched sounding music choice. The instruments used are primarily string and this creates a loud and eerie sound as it squeaks slightly, allowing a potential anxiety to flow through and rub off on the audience. This could suggest that the audience could begin questioning the plot of the film to be violent. The ambience also contributes to this and it also adds to the narrative enigma. After a while, the loud music fades. Once that occurs, there is a long shot displayed of an urban area. There is a text box that states 'PHOENIX, ARIZONA' which clearly indicates that it is an American city. There is a pan of this city and another type of music occurs which is jumpy, therefore creating a sense of tension and suspense. The audience then can witness the Arizonian city and take in the modernity of it. This is less sinister than other thriller openings and instead suggests that the place is friendly and luxurious. The location of this is seen as rather significant to the film so that is why it is a clear pan shot. 

Moving on from this, there is another title which states 'FRIDAY DECEMBER THE ELEVENTH'. This suggests that the date is significant as this is where the story begins and therefore may be important for the audience to understand. This title is layered on another pan shot of the urban city. The same music is utilised and is rather calming however also rather tense. As well as this, yet another title appears on screen which says 'TWO FORTY-THREE P.M.'. This title was not layered over a pan, but instead a zoom of the city into a window. The shot then is a close up/extreme close up. This effect is rather clever as it gives the impression that it has actually entered the room.

Low-key lighting is then visible in the next shot when the camera is in the window. A pan is then used to show all aspects of the room which consists of a simple display of furniture, and then a mid-shot displaying a woman lying on a basic bed with a male stood beside her. The male is the protagonist of the film and due to the woman also being there, it suggests that they have a relationship and that it is rather sexual. This is also illustrated as the woman's costume consists of expensive lingerie and her hair styled to perfection. As well as this, the man protagonist is only wearing dark trousers and is shirtless. This indicates their intimate relationship and although they seem rather well-off, their apartment shows that they do not have luxuries and therefore lead a very simple life. In this shot, the protagonist asks a very short question which is the first piece of dialogue in the film. There is then a cut away of a lunch which is a close-up. It is referring to his question when he asks her if she has eaten it. The male is then seen in a mid-shot and the audience is then able to see him properly as he is- shirtless. The woman then answers him briefly, saying that she should go back to the office and that her boss and her do not have a very good relationship together. There are a few more shots, one of which shows a moment of passion as the man kisses the woman and addresses her once more.

Analysis of Thriller Openings- Inception

Inception

Plot: The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the subconscious, and is offered a chance to have his criminal history erased as payment for a seemingly impossible task: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.

The opening credits of this film 'Inception' is dark and gloomy. This is due to the text being a light colour and the background being black and therefore dark. This allows the audience to understand and make out the writing and symbols. This graphology is there to also hint at the films narrative as this could illustrate the mystery and thrilling aspect to the film.

At the beginning of the narrative, an extreme close up is displayed of a man (played be Leonardo DiCaprio) to allow the audience to take in his appearance as he is a significant actor in the film. The establishing shot is of waves against rocks which reinforce the fact the character has just been washed up. The fact the character is seen as puzzled also allows the audience to realise that he did not plan to be there and this is therefore the first problem to overcome in the film. The audience is then left to question why he is there and how. Due to this, it adds to the narrative enigma as well as it being full of suspense. 

As well as this, there is a low angled shot of a Japanese character. This indicates that the character has found the character who was previously washed ashore due to him looking down at a figure. The man is dressed in all black expensive clothing which suggests that he is authoritative figure and part of a business. This also suggests that he has a high status and may contrast with the man who was washed ashore. This also allows the audience to understand different classes and lifestyles from various characters. The emotion displayed on the Japanese man's face is rather blank which adds to the mystery of the film. This could create anxiety within the audience as they are suspicious of the man and whether he could potentially be an antagonist. The rather confused expression on the Japanese man's face also indicates that he may not know the other character or did not expect him to be there.

Right at the beginning of this clip, the sound was full of deep non-diegetic music which is a typical convention of thriller films. This also makes the audience wary of the fact something unknown could happen and therefore adds to the narrative enigma. This music is utilised at the beginning, however is cut off as soon as the shot of the waves bashing against the rocks in a storm-like setting occurs. The violent shot allows a loud and booming sound of water to be used as audio in the film and could also hint at the fact the film is overall full of violence and aggression between characters. As well as this, it is the shot which tells the audience that the previous man was washed ashore and contributes to the idea that he had been thrashed through these waves and therefore possibly injured. It could also suggest that he is a strong character for surviving the aggressive weather and elements. During this, another type of non-diegetic music begins playing and this one, like the other type, is very eerie and deep. It it also crescendo and builds up in tempo which adds to the narrative enigma. The audience could then begin becoming unsettled and wary of what is to come along with excitement and interest. 

The next clip is of the washed up man looking at two children playing. This two-shot displays sound which is clearly unnerving as it is rather mysterious. The sounds consist of crying, laughing and playing noises and due to the character being injured, it is echoing and eerie. Although it could be occurring, it is also possible that it is a figment of the character's imagination and that due to him being out of it, his mind is playing tricks on him. This adds to the fact the audience is interested in the film and allows them to use their minds to come up with possible scenarios.

Another part is various different shots when Japanese men are speaking. The dialogue is unknown to those who know languages other than Japanese so captions are seen on the screen. The dialogue is rather muffled and speaking of the man washed ashore. The fact the voices are foreign adds to he mystery and tension as the audience begins to question whether they are the antagonists. We are unclear of what role these Japanese characters play, however, we are aware that they are significant and a huge part of the previous man's story. 

The beginning of the extract utilises ellipsis of time. For example, it is utilised when the man has been washed ashore as this is linked to the children playing on the beach location. The shot of the two children is rather distorted and this contributes to the editing of the film. Possible explanations for this frame could be that the children are a figment of his imagination or a hallucination due to his injuries or a memory of his. This is an understandable scenario as he is clearly confused of his whereabouts and how he got there. The audience is unsure of who the children are and how they relate to the character too. Therefore, this adds to the narrative enigma and again makes the audience question the shot and how it is significant to the film.

Moving on from this, low key lighting is visible in this clip and is only shown as the potential antagonist is displayed on screen.The low key lighting is a typical convention of thriller films, especially used on antagonists. When the antagonist is shown, it is clear that he is a villain. The setting is a typical Japanese style which then furthermore indicates that the previous characters who found him are working for the main antagonist. 

When the American man is in the large room with the antagonist and several other people, it is clear that the antagonist is full of power and authority. The outfits contrast with one another, as the antagonists are all wearing very expensive costumes which is a typical convention of thriller films. This is where the opening becomes much more confusing and adds to the narrative enigma. This is due to the fact that the American man is wearing a casual costume which contrasts with the other men's. This highlights the fact he does not belong there, therefore allows the audience to become confused with the fact he is involved in the "meeting" and is significant to this part of the film.

Analysis of Thriller Openings - SE7EN

Analysis of 'SE7EN'

Plot: aking place in a nameless city, Se7en follows the story of two homicide detectives tracking down a sadistic serial killer who chooses his victims according to the seven deadly sins. Brad Pitt stars as Detective David Mills, a hopeful but naive rookie who finds himself partnered with veteran Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman). Together they trace the killer's every step, witnessing the aftermath of his horrific crimes one by one as the victims pile up in rapid succession, all the while moving closer to a gruesome fate neither of them could have predicted.

The beginning of the opening sequence was of an establishing shot presenting the protagonist William Somerset lying in bed and then beginning to organise his clothes which suggest that he is fastidious and knowledgeable. As well as this, there is clear ambient sound within these shots that highlight the urban location the film is set in. It also illustrates how busy New York is and how the character is unable to comfortably sleep due to the ambience. As well as this, the aural mix is also layered over the rest of the audio and this increases the fact life in New York is straining and distressing. This shot of Somerset laying in his bed allows the audience to judge the character. The long shot illustrates the organised and neat items in his room. It also shows that the house is made just for him, suggesting that he is lonely.

Low-key lighting is also in this shot which allows the audience to understand that it is in the evening. This could be pathetic fallacy as the dim lighting relates to how the character is feeling. Somerset is seen to be an independent man with a routine lifestyle, however, the low key lighting in this shot could suggest that perhaps he is very unhappy with his life in New York. It could also indicate that Somerset's neighbourhood is run down and the opposite of homey. The ambient sound could also link to this as there are many different layers of this including voices, cars, sirens, animal noises and chanting. 

More shots are used such as a close up of Somerset's metronome and another close up of Somerset removing his glasses. These are straight-cuts and are used whilst ambient sound is continuing. A shot-reverse-shot of the metronome is apparent and this highlights a sense of mystery- a common convention used in thriller openings. It could link to Somerset being very introverted and therefore intriguing to the audience. After these shots occur, there is a black cut just after there is a slow tracking zoom onto the metronome. Then all audio stops and a title sequence occurs.

The title sequence is very intriguing and hints at the films' narrative. For example, numerous different shots of objects such as a book, art, blade, and a hand writing are demonstrated on the screen. These images are supposed to intrigue viewers as they hint at the psychological aspect of the film. The titles also highlight crime and they do this by using semantic field. Each of these shots are shaky which would have been edited in. Each shot of a specific object is cut up using black with titles over them. These titles include names of actors and actresses as well as other people who have been involved in the making o this film. The font of these titles appear to look similar to that of handwriting which could link to the clip of the man writing, or a significant part to the film. The white font allows it to show a clear contrast against the black background and makes it easy to read due to the more difficult sans-serif font. The shots of hands could suggest that of the antagonist and therefore increases the audiences' interest in the film and leave them wondering what the film narrative is and have them questioning from the beginning. As well as this, the music over the top is non diegetic and follows a typical convention of thriller films. The soundtrack is percussive and low-pitched. It also has no real rhythm or genre to it which indicates that the film is unique and hides various different parts to it. It could also leave the audience believing that it reflects the antagonist and how they are unstable and perhaps even insane, and therefore having the audience hooked. The music is incidental and the fact that it is unbalanced and even has aspects of screaming allows the audience to understand that the rest of the film will be just as distressing. 


As well as this, there are also various shots of a hand with scissors and cutting up various objects. The dangerous prop used also illustrates the fact that there will be unnerving events occurring in the film and the scissors may be a vital and significant prop used.

More images are displayed over the course of the clip, and one of the most disturbing would be of the blade and the fact it is used so that the potential antagonist can cut themselves with it. This enforces the lack of sanity and the fact that this man is mentally unstable and probably involved in the murder cases. This could potentially trigger audiences as it is very sinister and uncommon for thriller films. However, the close-ups highlight the contrast between this antagonist and Somerset.

Therefore, these disturbing images allow the audience to understand the concept of the film and therefore decide whether to continue watching due to the potential triggering side of it and the psychotic elements. The editing is non continuous and this is utilised to highlight tension and suspense as well as the audio which is high-pitched and percussive.


At the very end of the clip, there is a shot of an outside area with several white buildings surrounding it. This is a clear representation of low-key lighting. This is a convention of a thriller film and is clearly visible in this shot as well as others. This is a mid-shot as it displays numerous different objects. It is a still as nothing moves and it is the first shot before the film really begins. This shot also indicates the fact the urban city New York is full of gritty places, is noisy, and that it is a significant part of the film.




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