Sophie's Thriller Openings

The Usual Suspects

The opening sequence of The Usual Suspect starts with a close up of a set of matches all being lit in darkness. A theme of fire continues throughout the opening, this use of mise en scene is significant in creating this thriller opening, as it suggests danger to the audience and adds to the effect of the low key lighting (also a convention of thrillers).

The next shot is a medium close up that slightly tilts up to reveal the character holding the matches. The shot starts off as showing just the characters hands, however after the upwards tilt the character is revealed to be sat on the floor and lighting a cigarette; smoking is used here as iconography for the audience. The characters dark clothing and hair adds to the dark thriller atmosphere of the scene. The simplicity of his costume also adds realism for the audience, making him realistic and relatable, which is a key aspect in characterisation of thriller films.

Soon after this shot, we are shown a long shot of the character, now revealing more of his surroundings. The set here shows him sat up against wooden crates, on concrete floor, with other props such as ropes, barrels, and metal machinery surrounding him. This implies he is in some kind of factory or work house which is presumably abandoned; this follows the convention of thriller pieces often being set in remote and industrial settings.

In a series of close ups we can see the fire spreading rapidly along the floor. The use of close up shots cutting and moving quickly means that the audience can just see the fire in the frame. This creates enigma for the audience as mystery is created about where the fire is going to lead. This enigma is developed even more when the fire is stopped by what the audience can only see as some kind of fluid falling from the sky.

The following series of shorts creates significant enigma and mystery for the audience, as we are introduced to a second character (at the point where the non-diegetic soundtrack comes in, implying that this character is significant to the storyline). There is a slow tilt up, from a dead persons legs and the fire (conventions of thrillers) up to the balcony at which the new character is standing. Similarly to the first character, this character is wearing all black which adds to the darkness of the piece. In addition, we don’t see this characters face; I find this very effective in building up enigma, creating dozens of questions for the audience from the beginning, which is something I would like to achieve in our thriller opening.

When both characters start speaking, they both speak with quiet, whispered tones of voice. I find this very effective as it adds to the eery atmosphere of the scene as well as creating suspense, and additionally creates questions for the audience such as: why are they whispering? And how have they got there?

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - American Version 

The opening starts with an establishing extreme long shot, panning to the left, showing an open rural area. This follows thriller conventions of settings being in rural/industrial areas. The colour definition used here is almost black and white, this works as a visual aid for the audience to be able to identify the genre of this piece. However I think the sound here is the most significant aspect in creating an eerie, thriller like atmosphere. There is non-diegetic music of almost angel like voices singing alongside a slow piano line, resembling a child's lullaby. I find this every effective in creating an unsettling atmosphere and anxiety for the audience, which is something I would like to achieve at some points of our thriller opening. In addition, an off-screen diegetic sound of a telephone ringing is introduced. The use of the off-screen sound creates enigma from the very start of the opening. 
The editing then cuts to another extreme long shot of a house within the setting just shown in the establishing shot. We can now see that it is snowing, this is an interesting use of mise en scene as snow is usually associated with calm atmospheres.  

In the next sequence of shots we see two characters speaking over the phone. The first two shots introducing the characters are taken from behind them, making only the back of their heads visible. This creates enigma for the audience as to who they are and why their faces aren't being shown. An interesting use of contrast in colour definition, costume and props is used here between shots to separate the two places and construct a first impression of both characters. The first man, firstly shown through a mid-shot of him answering the phone call, is in the setting shown in the establishing shots (this is clear through the continuity of the dull lighting and colour used). The medium shots enable to audience to see he is in a fairly average house, wearing very simple clothing suggesting he is of no significant power here. In addition, we do see the characters face in later shots, suggesting there is little mystery with this character. The other character however, is first shown through a very high angled close up of his head and shoulders and due to extreme close ups and dim lighting, the audience barely see his face. This suggests there is a lot more mystery to do with this character than the first. In addition, the colour used to show the new character is very browned tinted, in a very well furnished, well lit and expensive looking room. All of the above, alongside his well-dressed costume of a suit, suggests that he has superior power or significance at this particular point of the story. The clearly defined levels of power, significance and status of each character, shown through camera angles, Mise en scene and lighting are especially effect in thrillers and is something I wish to create in our thriller piece. 

Lastly, we see the superior man put the phone down and walk away. A slow tilt downwards reveals a unwrapped frame with some kind of plant/flower in it. This creates greater enigma for the audience, as although they know what they were talking about (an answered question), there are now further questions to be answer for example: what is the picture? What do they have to do with it? How did it get there? Etc.


Dark Knight

The opening sequence for the Dark Knight is of a bank robbery sequence.The opening begins with an establishing shot of an industrial city, setting the scene for the audience. This use of an urban city in this piece is key for adding realism to the film and therefore making the situations and characters relatable for the audience (this is something I aim to achieve in our thriller piece). In this establishing shot the camera is moving as though on a crane forwards, zooming into one specific building and then one specific section of the building. This creates slight enigma as to where to camera is taking the audience and why it is significant to the story. This is followed by one of the windows being smashed open in this shot. 

There is little mystery during this opening regarding where the characters are or what they are doing. However, the main growth of enigma comes from who they are. All robbers here are wearing clown masks, this interesting use of costume is effective in creating mystery for the audience, as this not only hides the identities of the robbers but also introduces and disguises the identity of the joker at the same time. In addition, all of the robbers are seen wearing dark items of clothing, making them look more similar and therefore hard to distinguish.The joker is first established from an extreme long shot of him from behind, 
showing him holding his joker mask in his hand. This is a low angle shot, suggesting he has superior power and status compared to the other robbers who are shown generally through eye level shots. The second significant shot of him is an extreme long shot of him running into the bank, again from a very long angle with him as the subject of the shot, panning to the right to follow him into the building. The use of camera shots, angles and movements all play alongside the subtle use of different costume (a light blue shirt) and additionally the fact that he is the only character who doesn't speak during the robbery, all show that he is the character holding most power in this sequence; and is therefore the Joker. I think that both the obvious uses of camera angles, shots, movement and the more subtle uses of costume and dialogue work very effectively together here in portraying the different levels of power and status throughout characters. This is something would like to use for our piece of work. 

The sound in this sequence is very significant for creating a mysterious atmosphere. From the first shot, the non-diegetic soundtrack begins and continues throughout the opening. At this point the music is quiet however still effective in setting an uneasy atmosphere. The use of background music rather than full volume soundtracks, means that sounds from actions made on screen (eg/ the window smashes, car doors, gun shots etc) become a lot more effective for the audience. This is primarily enhanced by the use of heightened Foley sounds with actions of some significance to the story (gunshots).  

Throughout the opening sequence of Dark Knight, Iconography plays a big part in setting the genre for the audience. Common situations for thriller films like bank robbery's alongside common props / aspects used such as guns, other weapons, innocent hostages etc all work as visual aids for the audience to be able to tell which genre the piece is within.

Kill Bill

The color definition in this opening is black and white, this sets the genre as thriller perfectly for the audience from the beginning. Also works to this represents the kind of feel of the film; very dark and mysterious.

The opening of Kill Bill starts with a close up of a women lying on the floor with blood and wounds covering her. This use of hair and makeup along with her facial expression and heavy breathing (suggesting fear) works effectively to engage the audience into the action of the story from the beginning. This shocking first shot also creates significant enigma. In addition the absence of non-diegetic sound at this point also works very effectively in enhancing the effect of the women crying and heavy panting on the audience, therefore creating a tense atmosphere. 

A sound of footsteps begin, and continue to get closer (louder), this effectively makes the audience feel anxious. This is followed by a close up of a man's feet walking heavily but slowly alone the floor. The shot of the mans feet is the most he is seen in this opening, however we can hear him speaking and therefore tell that he is stood over the girl. Using hidden identities is a great way of creating enigma and mystery in thriller openings and I would like to explore this for our groups thriller opening. Not only is this technique effective in creating enigma but is also effective as we get to see the women's reactions to him. the spectator therefore only sees the women's point of view, suggesting that they are supposed to feel sympathy for the women and dislike the man.
The gunshot & blood in this opening are examples of iconography used to identify the genre. 

The women being shot is significant here. The camera shots, realism and other aspects of mise en scene have been manipulated in order for the audience to feel the character is relatable and therefore feel sympathy for her. This connection between the character and audience is then broken by her being shot, which is very effective in evoking feelings of sadness. After she is shot, the non-diegetic soundtrack comes in parallel to the title sequence. The sad music work directly parallel to the sadness the audience may be feeling towards the women being shot. I find this kind of manipulation of character realism, camera shots, angles, and mise en scene in order to evoke specific reactions in the audience, very effective.

Face Off

The  opening to the film Face Off, begins with some slow motion shots of a father and son on a carousel. The use of slow motion editing and a hazy, bright colour definition is very effective here at indicating the sequence as a dream/flash back, if we were to include a flashback/dream into our thriller opening, this would be a positive way to do it. 
The non-diegetic music here is very effective at being a parallel representation of the action in the frame, very happy and positive music is playing while the father and son ride on the carousel. 

The setting and costumes used add significant realism to the opening, meaning that audience can easily relate to the characters represented and therefore feel and become more involved in the story. 
This happy, feel good scene is slightly broken by an extreme long shot of the carousel and the surrounding park, this shot starts to suggest that someone/ something could be watching them. 
This slight disruption is confirmed by a fast and subtle use of match on action. The extreme long shot begins to tilt downwards to reveal a small section of white cloth being moved. This action is continued to the next shot where we see the white cloth being pulled upwards to reveal a weapon. The shot then cuts to an extreme long shot of a man standing behind the weapon with the white cloth falling in the background (this works as the third section of the match on action). This fast pace use of match on action is very effective in creating enigma here, as the audience get three short clips all revealing significant information however they cut so fast that there isn't enough time to think about it (ie, the audience could think the weapon is a camera at this point)

The way the lighting of the extreme long shot of the man is constructed is that he is the shadows of some trees, this and his all black costume helps to communicate to the audience that he is the 'bad guy'. In addition, the low angle of the shot promotes him as the powerful character in this sequence. The music here is also manipulated to significantly change the mood, the happy non-diegetic music cuts out on the revealing of the man and is replace by tense music working to create suspense and indicate to that audience that something bad is going to happen. Lighting, costume, camera angles and music are great ways to effectively create feelings of dislike for characters and can also be used to create feelings of fondness and sympathy (the slightly high angled shots of the happy father and son).

Following shots work well to effectively create mystery around who the character of the man is. Shots like an extreme close up of his mouth (used before his face is revealed) work well to add enigma for the audience. 

Lastly, physical props such as the weapon here work as iconography for the audience to be able identify genre, along with the good vs evil theme also represented here. 


Seven

There are many aspects to the opening title sequence used in 'se7en' that make it effective for a thriller film opening. The main colour theme used in the titles is black and white, this helps the audience to identify the genre of the film well as it represents a dark nature from the beginning. Additionally, the font used is a rigid almost scary font, this also does well at representing the nature of the film from the beginning. I think that fonts and colour within title sequences of films can be critical in portraying a certain feeling/mood from the beginning of a film, and this is a great example of how this can be done effectively. 

The fast paced and edgy editing here works well to engage the audience and keep them interested. The shots cut frequently, meaning that the audience get little time to see what each clip is showing or representing, creating a lot of questions for the audience (creating enigma). In addition to the actual shots themselves, the editing techniques mean that the action frequently moves position in the frame. This kind of surreal editing leaves audience feeling as though they are in a dream and fundamentally works very effectively at keeping the audience guessing.

The first few clips work well at getting the audiences attention. Following the first extreme close up of an old book, there is a close up of some disfigured hands. This works effectively to shock the audience, set the genre and ultimately get the audiences attention. Other shots have the same effect; an extreme close up of some running their fingers over a small blade. Many of the props used (blades, machinery etc) are examples of iconography. 

The sound here is very important for the effectiveness of this opening. The main non-diegetic sound is a tense and suspense building music in the back ground. This is often joined by random bursts of the sound effect of a typewriter (often used in thrillers to build suspense or tension). Additionally there are random bursts of radio waves that resemble the sound of someone's scream, again keeping to the conventions of the genre. 
Overall, the random but selective music is effective in keeping parallel to the random but selective clips going on within the frame.