Thriller opening analysis

The aim of an opening to any film is to present it which is done through introducing the plot and characters ect and setting the scene for the audience. Usually the first thing that one will see at the beginning of a film is the production company details and sometimes the distribution company as well. Below one can see a screenshot taken of a production company logo that appears before the film begins. It is very important to show these details at the beginning as the audience need to know who the film was produced by.

Next, we will see the title of the film and the credits. Below one will see a screen shot taken from a film called Psycho made in the year 1960. As you can see there is a dark background which may be common for a thriller film as the colour black connotates mystery, fear and uncertainty. The font will be clear and legible for the to audience to read. As the film begins we then may see some of the actors/actresses names appear on the screen and also the names of people that were vital for the making of the film.

As the film begins the first shot that we will usually see is an establishing shot. This can be a pan around a room to show the audience what is in it or like in the screen shot that I have taken below (The Taking of Pelham 123, 2009) an aerial shot. This is used to show the audience where the film is located and to set the scene.

During the opening we will be introduced to the main character/s. It is very important that they are immediately introduced to us so we know from whose perspective the film is going to revolve around. They may be presented to us in various different ways, for example in the film Trainspotting made in 1996 the main characters are first seen running along the street away from someone. From this opening shot of them we may be able to infer that these people may be trouble makers as it seems like they have done something bad and are trying to get away from the situation as fast as possible. Here is a screen shot of when we first see the characters running.

Another feature that is instantly recognizable in an opening to a movie will be the soundtrack. The music played is vital in any movie especially in a thriller as it is used to build tension which is essential. I have watched the openings to a few thriller films and a recurrent feature that appears throughout each of them is that the soundtracks are predominantly sinister. The soundtracks are non-digetic and they set the mood for the audience creating tension and suspense where necessary.

During the opening there will be appropriate mise-en-scene for the mood of the film. For example, the lighting is a crucial part as it reflects the ambience of the scene. If we were to see a dark setting this may reflect the impending evil that may be about to occur. Also appropriate props will be seen, for example I have taken a screen shot which can be seen below from the film One Hour Photo made in 2002. The image shown is of a camera which is a vital part of this film.

Finally, the camera shots and editing will also be important for the opening as they are used to create the mood and build suspense where it is needed. Overall, from studying openings of thriller films I have learnt that there are a great number of features that are used in order to present the film in the correct way that the producers are trying to achieve. I feel that looking at the openings is a very important thing to do as it will give myself and my group inspiration and will help us understand the key features needed in order to create a good opening to a thriller film.