10 Thriller Openings-Sequence Grid

Film Thriller codes and conventions

Opening codes and conventions

What did you enjoy? What would you improve?

How could this influence your thriller opening?

Watchmen Low-key lighting/ Filtered picture.

Low-key lighting, ordinary location, fight scene. Blood and weapons such as a gun and a knife.

I enjoyed the whole fight scene, and how we never knew who the man who attacked him was. The whole scene was in low-key lighting with a filter on it so it looked black and white, and the only thing with colour was the yellow smiley face badge.

Quite slowed paced at the start which makes the viewer a little bored.

I loved the yellow in stark contrast to the filtered surroundings. It definitely stood out, and I think that if I used it in my opening, it would emphasise an object, therefore adding to the theme/plot as a whole.

Spectre Low-key lighting. Score film music

Low-key lighting, score music.

I enjoyed the gold and black shots of the man with the women around him.

Possibly have a more insightful glance into the storyline.

I liked how it started quite slow and had lots of close ups. I would like to use lots of close ups in my thriller opening.

From Russia with love.

Mystery, low-key lighting, clear portrayal of the hero and villain.

Film score music. There was a death/murder.

The suspense and the tension that was created. The viewer feels like they must hold their breath, in order to not be detected themselves!

It was slightly confusing, and I struggled to know who was following who, however no drastic improvements to be made.

I liked the suspense that was created from someone being followed. I would like to maybe do my thriller around the theme of someone being followed.

Kill Bill Black and white

Black and white flashback

I enjoyed trying to guess what had happened to the woman, and who the mysterious man was. Why was a woman in a wedding dress covered in blood?

Very minimal music therefore add some music. We should be able to see a little more of the villain.

Black and white effect. Non-diegetic sounds for example, breathing. Not revealing the villain’s identity.

Face Off Flashbacks, thriller font, low-key lighting, ordinary scenario.

Flashback filter, font that is stereotypically associated with something from the thriller genre.

The music was really effective as it complimented what we saw on screen. The relationship and special bond between the father and son was also a nice touch done my John Woo.

Not have the father and son relationship shots on for such a long amount of time.

I like that it is an ordinary scenario, where extraordinary events take place.

10 Thriller Openings-Sequence Grid

The 39 steps Set in an ordinary scenario/location. High and low key lighting.

Not revealing who had the gun, by not showing any of the face. There was also a fight scene which in 1935, would have been very exciting to watch as there were lots of people involved.

I enjoyed the many shot-reverse-shots techniques. The long-winded speech added a little suspense. It had several comical interludes.

I would improve this opening by making it in colour. Although it was produced in 1935, and colour was not available, it is still an improvement. Also, it is quite long winded and dragged out.

Using the mystery aspect not reveal too much information regarding who the villain may be.

The Maltese Falcon

Black and white, film score music.

Set in an ordinary city. Mysterious.

How we were told about the plot and what was happening very clearly, and right from the very start.

The few shots before the woman enters are a little long-winded and boring. Also, this could do with being in colour also.

It would be good if the plot line was partially explained or hinted from the offset.

Bonnie and Clyde

Mirrors, low-key lighting.

Set in a housing estate which is an ordinary suburb.

The ‘hilarious’ humour.

The sexual tension was a little too awkward for my liking.

A conversation is something I think is very important, even if it is just a few words.

Gone girl Dialogue, and Voice over before any sort of picture. Juxtaposition, and lots of cutaway shots.

The cutaways were really nice, they were framed properly, were in good quality, and the juxtaposition was very helpful in hinting at what may happen and where they may be.

It was a very short opening, and didn’t leave me feeling that intrigued. I haven’t really got any questions, which is certainly something that you wish for you audience to have.

I will ensure that my opening is a suitable length. I also think that juxtaposing cutaways is a great way of building suspicion, and making an opening a little bit different.

The Dark Knight Rises

Titles, low-key lighting, picture cut outs.

Low key lighting,

I thought that the fast camera movements at the start were very interesting and makes the audience

The music was very repetitive and quite boring. It had little substance and

I do like the aspect of cutting out the faces and there being a psychotic/obsessive person being involved. I believe that it would

10 Thriller Openings-Sequence Grid

intrigued as to what is happening.

ornamentation. be a really interesting concept to play around with.