Section 2: Research into examples of thriller opening scenes

Seven Analysis:
Style - The style of the film is dark and eary. It gives the feeling of grim and gloom.
Character - There are 2 Detectives, Sommerset and Mills. These two characters are contrasting. Sommerset is professional, wise, experienced, organised whereas Mills is less experienced, thrill seeker, messy, loose, "in it for the action". There is also the physical contrast of race, Sommerset is black and Mills is white, Sommerset is old and Mills is young. Sommerset is single, Mills is married.
The serial killer is hidden for most of the film. He is seen as a mysterious, clever character. He is also cerebral as he thinks his plans through and plans out all his murders. In this film, the serial killer is also percieved as a preecher as he is trying to teech the world about religious beliefs in God and change the ways of modern society.
Setting - Seven is set in an anonymous, mysterious, urban city. It is nearly always raining everytime there is an outdoor scene in the city, this creates gloom and depression and draws the audience into this type of setting.
Narrative - Seven is a linear film as the events flow in cronological order, it starts from the beginning (doesn't go back in time, no flashbacks) The film is based on the seven deadly sins and how one character is trying to change society to fit his own personal preferences on how he thinks the world should be.
Graphics - The colour scheme of the graphics is black, white and red. The background is black and the words are white, a ghosting effect is also used. Again the theme of contrasts, the colours black and white are contrasting like the two detective characters and also black and white could be percieved as good verses evil. Throughout the opening sequence the characters are mysterious and kept anonymous and only actions are shown, for example sewing pages together, cutting off fingertips, crossing out words from books using black marker. These actions are seen as strange and abnormal. When the anonymous character is deleting words from a book with a black marker, he also draws a line over the eyes of a young child in a photograph, this is almost like he is de-humanising/removing the identity of the child as the eyes are the window to the soul and shows that he wants the power to do this in society.
The music to the opening sequence is repetitive, and has a beat that compares to a heatbeat. The music is also built up by layers, starting with just the beat and then other sounds are added, for example screams and distorted speaking. At the end of the music sequence a voice says "Closer to God", this referes to the serial killer trying to control society through religion.

How successful is Seven as a thriller?
I think Seven creates the fear and suspense that is needed in a thriller, and it creates mystery but it is also simple as it is linear and flows through time in cronological order and isn't confusing.

Red Eye Analysis:
Narrative structure - In the opening sequence to this thriller film two different contrasting scenes are seen along side eachother; a mysterious man in a house and two work men outdoors at the docks, a contrast of in and out and also domestic and industrial. It seems that these two scenes are linked and the audience is left to ask questions and find clues to discover what that link is, join up the loose ends. When the anonymous man is in the house, photographs are shown of a young girl, this gives the audience the impression that the house is a family home and the girls life may be in danger. The character in the house then takes a wallet but takes out all the credits cards as if he is searching for something else. This shows that the reason the man is in the house is not about money. In the contrasting scene running along side, different things are happening. Two men are scene at the docks opening a large box, and loading it into a truck. The audience don't see what is in the box and still ask the question why is this all happening.

Thriller codes and conventions - This thriller opening sequence reveals alot of information but thats seems unrelated and makes the audience ask why, who and what, for example: a wallet is shown with the letters JR printed on it when the anonymous character is in the house, he also then takes a photograph of a young woman from the wallet. Someone in also looking at blue prints and maps, "penthouse lower level floor plan" As well as these pieces of information, when the two men are opening the box at the docks, "South Florida Sun Seafood" is seen printed on the side of the box, this gives the audience a clue as to where the setting is.

Camera work - There are lots of close ups in the opening sequence, on the action and important parts that the director wants the audience to see, for example: the letters JR are shown on the wallet as a close up as this is the main focus. There is also a close up of "inspector approved" on the box of seafood produce at the docks, this makes the audience think that the men must be professional and genuine but then this idea changes when the mysterious box is removed and placed into the van. Faces and identities are kept anonymous to create mystery and make the audience curious as to who is involved.
Point of view shots are also used when the anonymous man is in the house, filming over his shoulder as he is looking through the wallet and also as he is looking at the "penthouse lower level floor plan" blue prints. This is to show the audience exactly what the character is seeing. Also the point of view shots are jerky and shakey, this is to show unease and antisipation in the character.
A tracking forward shot is also shown as the box at the docks is being transferred, this is to emphasise the fact that the men are getting away and escaping.

Mise-en-scene - At the beginning of the opening sequence, photographs are shown of a young girl. One of her graduation and one of her playing sport. The graduation photograph connotes intelligence, high achiever and possibly wealth. The fact that there are two different images showing almost opposite subjects, connotes that maybe this girl has two separate sides to her personality, this gives away clues to her character before the audience see's her.
The two scenes that run along side eachother are contrasting. One is indoors in a house and the other is outside at the docks at night. There seems to be no obvious link between the two and so the audience has to follow both scenes.
In the dark, outdoor scene at the docks, men are seen opening and moving a mysterious box. Both men are wearing gloves, this could be a clue that maybe they are stealing the box and don't want to leave fingerprints, the audience is left with this question. The audience is then lead to think that the men are professional as a close up shot is shown of a checking list stamped "Inspector approved".

Sound - There is the sound of a plane taking off as the opening scene begins, this connotes airports and aeroplanes and that maybe the film will be about this subject. The music to the overall opening changes with each different scene to suit whats happening; when the scenes in the house are shown, the music is creepy, eary and keeps the audience in suspense. When the outdoor shots are shown the music has a fast beat and sounds like an action film, this connotes James Bond and undercover spys. Overall the sound to the opening scene has peaks and troughs and when the plot changes the music changes to suit it. The scene music concludes with the sound of the truck doors slamming shut.

Editing - The editing is smooth and simple containing fairly short clips.
Graphics - The graphics are black and white, black background with white writing. The pase of the words appearing is slow and in tempo with the music. The words "Red Eye" appear in the middle of the screen and then fade up to small font. This connotes a plane taking flight off into the sky.

State of play Analysis:
Narrative structure - There is a chaotic element to the opening scene of this film verses a fragile and sympathetic element . This shows equalibrium between the distruption and resolution. At the start a black man is seen frantically running away from something or someone, this then turns out to be a white hitman. The contrast in race signifies that maybe the film is going to be about rasism.

Thriller codes and conventions - The setting to the film is in a dark, gloomy city at night and there is a thunder storm to create more gloom and depression. There is a classic hitman character with a briefcase and high quality assassin gun which he uses to shoot the other character. This prompts the question what is in the suitcase that is so improtant? and why has the other character been shot? There is then a whitness to the shooting which the hitman atempts to kill but fails. The questions are then, what has he seen? and who is he going to tell? this leaves the audience with mystery and wanting to know more.

Camera work - At the start there is a establishing shot of the city, Washington. There are then alot of long shots and panning. Close-ups are also used to show emotions which allows the audience to sympathise with the characters. The victim and the killer are never seen in the same shot, always separate. Also, the whiteman is seen from a low angle as he is standing and the balckman is seen from a high angle, this connotes white supremesy and black suffering. There is also a tracking shot as the whitness rides by on his bike and a point of view shot of what he can see, focusing mainly on the breifcase. This shows the audience the importance of the contents of the breifcase.

Mise-en-scene - At the start, no faces are shown, the characters remain anonymous until the running character stops and is hiding. At the beginning, a character is seen running frantically and seems to be running away from someone or something, although the character chasing him is never shown. Throughout the opening scenes, the theme seems to be opposites. At the start the character is seen running throught the dark city, he barges past old people and he then runs through a shop and causes chaos by knocking over plates, connoting "a bull in a china shop" senario. This shows the opposites eractic and fragile, and also indoor and outdoor. When the running character is shown, his appearance connotes crime, poverty and drug use as he is wearing scruffy clothes and his teeth look unhealthy. , he is standing whilst the running character is sat on the floor.

Sound- At the begining, sounds of a busy city can be heard, for example: helicopters, police sirens, car horns and collisions. Non diegetic sound is used to create effect, for example a heavy drum sound. There is also sound of a thunder storm, thunder and rain. This gives the audience the feeling of gloom. As the character is running through the city, the sound of him frantically running Heavy breathing/panting can be heard when the charcter stops running. The sound of the thunder storm gets louder at the end of the scene which then closes the scene well as it cuts to the next scene.

Editing - There is slow editing at the start of the opening scenes but then it begins to quicken up to create pase and drama, along with the music.

Graphics - At the start there is a classy logo, there are then simple graphics, using the actual film as background. The graphics are mainly blue symbolising coldness. The words "state of play" flash in red white and blue, connoting american and patriotism possibly connoting politics.

Strangers on a train Analysis:
Narrative structure - Two complete strangers meet on a train, talk about life and how to plan the perfect murder. They then depart ways.

Thriller codes and conventions - This film is based on a murder which is conventional in a thriller. The characters remain annonymous at the start of the film, their identities are revealed as they meet eachother. The audience is also left to question wether or not the two strangers will go through with the murders they have planned during their conversation on the train.

Camerawork - There are a lot of low level/close up shots in the opening scenes, containing important information about the characters for the audience. When the two characters are leaving their cabs and heading towards the train, one man is show walking left to right and the other is show walking right to left, this lets the audience know that they are walking towards eachother and will cross paths at some point. When the conversation begins between the two characters, shot reverse shot is used to capture all the dialogue from each character.

Mise-en-scene - When the characters board the train, there is a point of view shot of a train following the rail way line. This connotes flow and that the events in the film may follow a certain pathway. The two characters remain annonymous as they each exit their own cab, they are then shown walking towards one and other from different directions. As each man leaves their cab, a close up of their shoes are shown. The first character's shoes that are shown are black and white and, compared to the second characters plain black shoes, make the first character appear richer and higher class.

Sound - The sound in the opening scene is classical orcestra music. It beggins dramatically/epic and then unusually changes to calm/romantic. As the first man steps out of the cab, the non diegetic sound changes to jolly, happy music. This connotes a Tom and Jerry cartoon, and signifies that the man stepping out of the cab is playful, charismatic, cheerful and light-hearted. The sound then changes again as the other man exits his cab to a more masculine piece of music that is enchanting, magic and compelling. This change in music shows the differences between the two characters and gives clues to their personalities before any other information is established.

Editing - Cross-cut editing is used alot in the opening scenes of this film between the two characters as they are approaching eachother. The editing is slow at first but as the two characters are coming together the editing speeds up. This is to create a build up and make the audience wonder what will happen when the two characters cross paths.

Graphics - The graphics in this film are used over the background footage. Three different types of font are used, a larger font for the title of the film. The black and white theme of the titles is interpreted as good vs evil, like the good and evil contrast between the characters.


Snakes on a plane:
Narrative structure - In the opening scene the ocean is being followed quickly and then an anonymous exotic island is seen. A beach is then shown and there are peolple sun bathing, canoeing and surfing. This tells the audience that this is maybe a holiday resort. The ocean following shot is then shown again and then a different island is seen. The camera is quickly following a man on a motorbike travelling on a path through the jungle/forrest. The man then dismounts his motorbike and discovers a man in a shirt, covered in blood, hanging upside down from a tree. He is alarmed and runs away, suposedly for help. Two asian men then appear and run over to the hanging man and hit him. This connotes kidnapping and that maybe the man has been abducted. This makes the audience wonder why this is happening and who the men are. Another asian man then appears from a car, wearing a white suit. This connotes wealth and power. He then beats the man hanging from the tree with a bat. The other man on the motorbike then escapes quickly from the scene and the asian men attempt to chase him. The audience then know that the rest of the story will proceed and be unravelled from this opening scene.

Thriller codes and conventions - In this thriller, an ordinary person has been thrown into an extraordinary situation and has discovered information that he shouldn't have. This opening scene leaves the audience in suspense and creates many questions; Why is the man hanging upside down? Who are the men beating him? Where are they? Will the man on the motorbike tell people what he has seen.

Camerawork - At the start there is a tracking shot of the ocean being followed which then leads to an island. There is then a close up of women walking on a beach, and a low angle shot from the water of someone sufring, giving the auidence the impression that maybe these people are on holiday? This connotes relaxation. The camera is then following a motorbike at a quick pase, it then zooms out to show the whole area of the forrest/jungle. A low angle shot is then used to show the motorbike riding over then camera in slow motion. Tracking shots are then used to following the motorbike and also extreme close ups of the riders foot and hand whilst he is riding the motorbike.


Mise-en-scene - In the opening scene, set on an island, a man is seen riding through a jungle/forrest. He is riding the motorbike well and at speed. This tells the audience that maybe this is an everyday occurance for this character, and that he lives near by. He then discovers a man wearing a shirt and a fancy watch, being held hostage. His clothes tell us that maybe he is a high class citizen and that maybe he has been kidnapped by the foreign men that then come to beat him, whilst the motorcyclist is hiding in the trees. A man then appears from a car wearing a white suit, this connotes wealth and power and signifies to the audience that he is the boss/leader of the other men in the scene.


Sound - The film contains both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The non-diegetic sound is a piece of modern, drum and guitar, music which is played over the whole of the opening scenes, including the ocean and beach shot. The words "it's gonna be, a lovely day" in the song signifies the man riding the bike is having a nice day and creates a happy mood. The words "on top of the clouds" in the song links to the fact that later on in the film there is a plane journey. The diegetic sound has been kept in the film, for example the motorbike engine and the waves on the beach can be heard.



Editing - At first the editing is quite quick between shots as lots of things are going on. The people walking down the beach, a person surfing, people in a boat, two people on a surfboard. The editing then becomes longer when the motorcyclist is shown, as the camera follows him through the trees and bushes. The editing the goes back to being short when the foreign men come to the man being held hostage, the shots switch from the motorcyclist hiding in the trees to the men speaking to the hostage. This signifies that the motorcyclist is in on the action and listening to all the information being said.


Graphics - The font used is a large, white, block font and is put over the footage. When the title words "snakes on a plane" is shown, there is a slight pause after "snakes" and it's also in larger lettering than "on a plane" this makes the audience notice that the snakes are a big part of the film.