THRILLER FILM OPENINGS

THE DARK KNIGHT- CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

NOTESCAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS

• Opens with the classics Warner bros logo, except the lighting and colour are black and blue, which are also colours Batman/Bruce Wayne are associated with

• An Establishing shot of City of Gotham opens the scene. While zooming into a building, match on action is used to show the window being broken open, then a mid shot of a clown holding a gun is seen standing near said window. We then see the back of someone, holding a clown’s mask, getting into a van. A bird’s eye view shot is used to show two of the clowns zip lining over traffic, allowing us to see how high up they are. Cross cutting is used to show the different clowns/thugs and jobs they are doing. Tracking shots are used as the clowns run and enter the bank. Match on action frequently used.

SOUND

• Throughout the whole scene there is music playing, some sort of beat. It creates tension. Ambient sound is heard, cars on the road etc. Synchronous sound is also used, e.g. sound of window being smashed, of guns being cocked and fired

MISE EN SCENE & SYMBOLISM • Symbolism is represented in this scene in subtle ways. The emphasis

on the clown masks indicates that it has something to do with the Joker. They are all seen carrying guns and weapons, which Iindicates a sense of danger, which is usually not associated with clowns. The first ‘Clown’ we see is standing on the side of the road, and we only see the back of him. However, we can see that the man’s hair is green, which indicates that he is the Joker. This would probably not have been picked up on the first time you watch the movie, but the director, Christopher Nolan, is already giving the audience subtle clues.

OVERALL• There are no Opening credits, which really causes the audience to

focus on the scene, and recognise that it is an important one, and not just one added in to have credits overlayed on. The scene itself is suspenseful, and as the Joker is revealed at the end, it gives us a taste of how smart his character is, and is in an indicator of what is to come.

PSYCHO- ALFRED HITCHCOCK

NOTES• Opens with the Universal studios introduction

• Instantly there is fast music playing, specifically of violin strings, this causes tension and creates an unsettling feeling.

• Alfred Hitchcock’s name is first, immediately shows that this is a Hitchcock film, and creates excitement. The animation sequence used (designed by Saul Bass) is very erratic and unpredictable, which ties in with the theme of the film. Important actors and people involved with the film are then shown on screen. Transitions between credits are used with grey bars shooting across the scene, almost reminiscent of prison cell bars, which reflect the violence that occurs later in the film. The credits are white and bold against a pitch-black background, which makes the audience focus on them. Roles such as editors and supervisors names still appear, but are in a smaller font and there is less impact on them.

• There is then a cross dissolve and the music fades out as we are shown a establishing shot of the city. The words “Phoenix, Arizona” and “Friday, December the eleventh” are shown on screen, which brings up the question of if this date is an important one to remember. A common theme that Hitchcock likes to explore is that of voyeurism, and this is evident as the camera zooms in through a window, making it appear as if we are spying on the characters.

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS-JONATHAN DEMME

CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES• Opening shot is of a tree, indicating that the scene takes place in the woods, which

displays a feeling of isolation, as no one seems to be around. Jodie Foster’s name is the first to appear, the text is big and bold, black with a white outline, which makes it stand out despite the background having white and black hues.

• As more names appear on the screen, the camera slowly tilts downwards, and as it stops the title of the movie appears on the screen, the music creating a creepy vibe. We then first see Jodie Foster climbing up a rope, though we are unsure as to why she is doing this? At first it seems like she is running from someone, or something.

• .\ A tracking shot is used so that we can follow Clarice as she runs. Shots change from Mid shots, to close ups of her feet, to close ups of her face. Meanwhile credits are still being displayed on the screen, but the audience is not as drawn to them as they were in the beginning, as now there is something happening. We are then shown the climbing net, and it is established that Clarice is not running from something, but doing her training. The first lines of dialogue are “Starling, Starling!” Which allows the audience to learn the character’s name, and see that she is not as isolated as previously thought.

SOUND AND OTHER NOTES• First thing we hear is the score that is composed for the movie

• Selective sound of Clarice’s footfalls as she runs through the woods is the only other sound we can hear apart from the score

• The opening of this movie is effective as it has the audience on the edge of their seat, all the signs suggest that something is going to happen, that something may pop out and frighten everyone, the twist in this is that nothing is really happening at all, but it plays with the audiences feelings and emotions, as it continues to do throughout the whole movie.

SE7EN- DAVID FINCHER • The opening credits of this movie are different to the other movies

discussed. The opening credits are not bold or in your face, they are written in a white font on a black background, and made to look like messy handwriting. The size of the credits are rather small and displayed briefly, even for the big names such as Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and the title of the movie itself.

• The score is unsettling, there appears to be some sort of beat happening with sounds such as doors opening, weird electronic sounds etc. which causes disorientation and confusion.

• The credits are shown after a brief scene of something occurring. Things that are occurring show someone cutting off finger tips, cutting up bits of film, developing pictures, writing in a journal. The audience does not know what going on, and since the transitions are happening quickly, it creates a feeling of uncertainty.

• However looking back on it, the director shows all of these things happening as they play key parts in the movie to come. The whole scene could be described as unsettling and disturbing, which is also what could be said for the whole movie. This is another example on how the opening of a thriller film is important because, more times than not, it sets up the themes and messages for the whole film.