Analysis of ThrillerThriller Opening Credits

OPENING CREDITS ANAYLSIS

The opening sequence begins with a black screen and a single object, a television, in the centre. The screen at first is fuzzy which suggests the time period in which the film to be set in roughly the 90’s due to the signal on the screen and the TV set. The camera begins to zoom in towards the screen slowly, making the audience focus solely on the screen even more. The use of the TV provides the audience with the knowledge of how this take on Romeo and Juliet will be. The TV is extremely modern compared to the original Shakespearian version that viewers would typically expect Romeo and Juliet to be portrayed. The zooming of the camera intrigues the audience as though they are becoming deeper and deeper within the film and becoming more involved, even before any of the main characters are seen. A woman appears on the screen and begins to talk in the original Shakespearian dialogue that the play was written in. The preferred reading of this clip is to provide the audience with an understanding of the underlying narrative of the movie. The eye line match that the audience have with the women, as well as the zooming as if they are approaching her, make the viewers feel as though the woman is talking directly to them. This gives them a sense of familiarity with the story.

The clip goes on to show a close up shot of a statue that is a signifier of religion- most likely Christianity. This relates to the original production of Romeo and Juliet as religion plays a part in the play and narrative.The camera quickly zooms out, giving a long shot which is also used as an establishing shot. The busy city with the retail industry emphasised on the buildings represent the modern twist that the director has applied to the film.Within this shot, the audience can see the contrast between the two buildings, divided by the religious statue in-between. This refers back to the introduction from the woman on the TV screen who explains the feud between the 2 families.

A hand held shot is used to allow the audience to further establish where the narrative is located. From a slight high angle shot, the director has made the location look busy, but also dangerous. This is further connoted as the hand held shot projects realism, meaning that the camera is not steady but wobbles and jerks a lot, to give the audience an insight as to what it would be like if they were also flying in the helicopter in a police chase.

The danger of the city is further promoted with both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds of helicopters, shouting and police sirens. These noises represent a slight action theme within the film as well as drama. These sounds emphasise a contrast to the original play of Romeo and Juliet being a romantic drama and thriller. The non-diegetic soundtrack played alongside these gun shots and riot noises juxtapose one another. The contrast emphasises the drama within the narrative as not being the same as the original Romeo and Juliet that the audience may be aware of. The thriller theme is further stimulated with fast paced editing and short shot durations. This gives the audience feelings of urgency and tension as the fast-paced editing conveys the underlying narrative as being urgent and important.Non-continuity editing is shown of riots and police chases, also emphasising the thriller theme as though the narrative is very serious and a wide-spread issue.Props used within mise en scene of the opening credits emphasise the theme of action and feuds between families in the narrative, such as guns, helicopters and fire. This connotes to the audience of how violent the film may be throughout if the majority of the opening prologue is filled with a violent theme.

There is a montage of close up shots used to portray characters within the movie. The close ups emphasise their personalities and reactions to the situation they are in within that particular scene. The shot durations vary depending on the importance of the characters, the longer the shot duration mirrors a more important role within the film. The screen also freezes on these close ups for around 3-4 seconds and titles are shown to indicate the character and allow the audience to know who they are, giving them more understanding of the narrative.

For the majority of the characters including mainly the parents of Romeo and Juliet, the lighting is dark and their facial expressions are stern and unwelcoming. This represents the darker side of the narrative and connotes to the audience that there will possibly be a few tragedies/ catastrophes that occur within the film.

The dark lighting and stern facial expressions contrast with close ups of other characters such as Mercutio. The close up of his character is light and so many details can be seen, as well as this representing he is a more cheerful character as his character is seen to be smiling or laughing in the freeze shot. This may signify that he does not take the feud between the two families seriously, suggesting that he is the laid-back, humorous character within the film.

OPENING CREDITS ANAYLSIS

Close up shots are used throughout this opening sequence. As a result, the identity and location of the person is unknown, intriguing the audience to find out more about the character e.g. who they are/where they are/what they’re doing. The ongoing use of close up shots connote that the actions of the character are very secretive and possible sadistic. This leaves a sense of mystery for the audience to question as the close up shots could further connote that the audience should not be viewing what they are seeing within this opening sequence. Stereotypically, close up shots would allow the audience to develop a understanding of how the character is feeling and the situation they ae in. However, in this opening scene the close up shots do the opposite. By not being able to see the character’s face, we do not know how they are feeling and this causes the audience to feel confused and tense- adding to the mystery of the following narrative. More misperception of the audience is applied as there are many shallow focuses used throughout the majority of the clips. These focuses direct the viewer’s attention to what is happening with the items such as the photographs, knife cutting the fingertips and the pen writing. As a result, the audience are made to feel anxious and weary of what is happening as these actions are the only clips shown, connoting that they are important or a main entity within the narrative.

The setting is not revealed within the opening scene regarding mise en scene. As a result of the setting being unknown, tension is created within the audience as they are uneasy about the unusual clips being shown as they don’t know who the person is or where they are. The props used within the mise en scene such as files, books, pens and paper are the only identifiers for the audience for them to make an assumption of where this character is. These props suggest that the person is in an office or perhaps a home as all of the props are basic stationary that we would expect to see in these locations. More anxiety is fuelled to the audience as they are unaware of the main narrative of the film and these clips are giving subtle hints, almost clues, into what the film is about and how mysterious and dark it may be.

The idea of these props giving ‘clues’ to the audience is further connoted as they are shown very close up within shots- almost taking up the whole frame. As a result, more suspense is created as the audience get to see even less of the character making them seem more shifty and unknown to the audience. From this, the viewers may connote that the character is the antagonist and consequently develop uneasy emotions toward the narrative already, just from watching the opening credits.

The lighting within the opening sequence is primarily dark, low-key lighting. This is a key convention within the production of thriller genres, connoting danger to the audience and the seriousness being portrayed of the narrative. Most of the colours shown are black and white, however as the photos are shown being developed, the director has allowed the audience to see the red light that is used to develop them on the camera. This dark red connotes danger, possible blood connoting to a violent narrative, but also that the opening sequence is happening in the present.

A montage is used within the opening sequence of Se7en. There are many different shots used which are all edited together alongside the titles. Although in a montage format, the clips are continuous giving the sequence continuity- this can be related to by the audience who can develop an idea of the narrative within the film. The clips are not in a chronological order which gives the impression to the audience that this person is doing many different things to create some sort of file or investigation about something, e.g. getting photos and writing information. As a result, the audience feel uneasy and suspicious as we cannot see the character but we presume that what they are doing is very peculiar/shifty.The transitions of the opening sequence include straight cuts, fade to black, cross fade and overlapping of clips. The vary of transitions gives the sequence a very jump, unstable introduction to the film. Consequently, the audience feel nervous and are anxious about the mystery and how little they know of the movie. The fading gives the effect of the clips being linked together and creates an eerie feel whilst the fade to black reflects the sincerity and darkness of the film overall.

Special effects within the opening sequence include some of the clips being in slow motion, this creates a more sombre tone and allows the audience to properly see what they are doing on the screen. It also emphasises the suspiciousness of what the character is doing, making the audience feel uncertain of what they are seeing.Animations of flickering on the screen between and during shots and titles creates an eerie effect and contributes to the emphasis on the thriller genre as it makes the audience tense and anxious. The titles that are written appear in a font that resembles handwriting. This may be a signifier which goes on to signify, alongside the props, that someone is creating a file or investigation. The text appears in white which makes it stand out against the dark background. The contrast of black and white could possibly resemble the protagonist and antagonist within the narrative and emphasis the idea that the narrative is very sinister and mysterious. The titles are shown for around 3 seconds each, allowing the audience only a quick glimpse of the names shown. This adds to the fast-paced editing which emphasises the shiftiness of the character and unclear narrative- as if to confuse the audience.

Non-diegetic background music plays throughout the whole of the opening sequence. The music begins quite slowly, giving the beginning of the opening credits a slow pace. As the sequence builds up, the music becomes more intense and quick-paced. As a result, tension is created which connotes to the audience that the narrative may also be very tense. There are peculiar sounds within the background music that could possibly mirror creaking of floorboards or doors, machines, radio signals and sharpening of knives.Alongside the clips that are shown of someone cutting skin from their fingertips, pictures of (what looks like) deceased bodies and smudging of writing and markers, this music plays a key role in creating an eerie, unsettling opening sequence to make the audience feel anxious and nervous for what follows.

The only person we hear within the opening sequence is a man singing ‘You got me closer to God’ in a muffled, radio-edited tone at the end of the sequence. This adds to the mystery of the sequence and overall narrative as the film is based on the seven deadly sins which are found in the Bible. This non-diegetic quote therefore links the audience to the narrative even further, as if to let them know that the film is about to begin.