#3 Thriller Opening: The Others

The Others [2001]
Direced by Alejandro Amenábar

The Others - Megavideo [ Opening 0:00 - 2:50 ]
(Copyright forbids the embedding of this video)

SOUND
The use of sound in this opening combines many of the crucial elements that make a thriller. The non digetic sound consists of a flute based music track which builds into a more orchestral piece. The music is parallel to the images on scream [see paragraph below], as it is eerie and haunting. Unlike many thrillers, the non digertics do not build tension or suspense. They do however create a feeling of unease and uncertainty. Over this, there is a digetic voice over. We assume its digetic, as the character Grace [Nicole Kidman] addresses her children at the start. After the non digetics fade, the next sound we hear is a piecing scream coming from Grace as we cut to her [2:09 - 2:50]. This is followed buy a series of muffled cries, heavy breathing and silence. At the current time, no non digetic sound is heard.

CAMERA
Not much camera work is used in this opening. Over half is taken up with pictures, drawings of events to happen in the film [foregrounding]. We also want to know, who is in the pictures? The first time a camera is used is at 2:07, with an extreme long shot of a large mansion. This shot dissolves in from a drawing of the same shot. The ELS shows the isolation of the home and the family who live there. A cut then takes us to a big close up of Graces face. The close up is eye level which allows us to get a sense of normal human viewpoint, and the close up shows Graces facial expressions n detail. As Grace sits up, the canted camera, which had been on its side, twists around to an upright position and tracks Graces face as she rises, before dissolving into the nest scene. This gives the impression of a dream like state.

 ABOVE- Four grounding picture

ABOVE- BCU of Grace screaming

MISE EN SCENE
The lighting of the pictures on the screan is dark and the colouring is yellow, but the film uses a flickering light, to represent the candle. This creates a sense of fear and worry. The house is large mansion, indicating its occupants are wealthy. Its positioning, however is gives it a sense of isolation and loneliness, while the grey colouring gives it a dingy, cold feel, as if the house is derived of love. All hair, props and costume are naturalistic, especially for the time it was set [1945, just after the war]

ABOVE- The mansion

 ABOVE- Example of costume, hair, make up and prop mise en scene.

EDITING
The films opening uses a lot of fades in between the images. It also uses a dissolve at the end of the opening. There is also one fast cut from the house to Grace. These fast cuts crate pace and suspense within the audience. The Others also uses a subtitle, to tell the audience the date and location of the film. These too are also used to generate suspense.

ABOVE- The subtitles
By Chloe Hobden

"Vertigo" Thriller Opening

"Vertigo" - 1958

SOUND

In the chase scene on the rooftops the sound of the gunshots are emphasised and made dominantly loud to emphasise the chase and sense of danger. This is supported by the non-diagetic sound track which is very loud and peaks in random places to make the audience jump and creates a fast pace so that the audience can immediately infer it's a chase scene and grasp the danger that Hitchcock wants to create. Other diagetic sounds in this scene are emphasised too for example the sound of the breaking guttering holding the male protagonist up. The sound of it breaking is made loud to emphasise it is the vital piece holding him from his death.

The non diagetic soundtrack is used to foreground the protagonists fear of height (vertigo) by every time he looks down the sound track peaks to emphasise it's importance.

CAMERA WORK

This openeing scene features a technique that at the time was a new in terms of camerawork; the reverse zoom. Created by Hitchcock, this technique was repeated several times throughout "Vertigo" to emphasised the fear evoked the male protagonist when he looked down. Below is a video example of reverse zoom, the first two are reverse zooms from Hitchcock's "Vertigo" and the others are examples from other films after Hitchcock first used it.



BELOW: The first example of reverse zoom used in "Vertigo" which at the time wasa new camera technique devised by Alfred Hitchcock.

An Extreme Close Up of the charatcer's face tracks across and suggests some of the themes inside the film. The XCU really invades the personal space of the character and the personal features of characters are something exploited throughout the film. It also in ways masks the character as we can not distinguish who she is and the theme of being masked and hidden identity is a dominant theme later in the film as well. This use of an XCU helps to suggest themes that will later appear in the film.

BELOW: XCU of a females face which hides her identity and also asks questions about who she is and why she is there.

As the chase begins the three characters are followed via a panning shot over the rooftops and this establishes where they are and what is happening without narration or explanation as to where they are. It also establishes the characters as small in comparison to the powerful buildings.

When the male protagonist looks down a birds eye view is used when the reverse zoom is shown to enforce the height of the building and also his vertigo. Close ups are then used to show his fear on his face. This combination of reverse zoom followed by the CU of the protagonist's face establishes the protagonists fear of vertigo which is to dominate throughout the film.

MISE EN SCENE

During the extreme close up at the beginning of the opening when the camera reaches the right eye of the female we as an audience are looking at the black and white screen is flooded with red as the eye expresses a sense of fear through body language and facial expression. This use of the colour changing from black and white to red has a few connotations which could be relevant for the rest of the film. Red could connote lust and death; two factors which are dominant in the film.

When the male protagonist is stuck hanging from the guttering on the roof his facial expression is vital because for the first time we as an audience experience his fear of heights (vertigo) his fear is crucial to communicating the significance of this fear throughout the film so his expression in the CU shots of his face display his fear directly. The make-up of the male protagonist as he hands is important as well. Large beads of sweat are dripping from his head as he hangs and this is all added to communicate his deep fear of heights.

The costume of the three characters as they come up the ladder distinguishes them immediately so the audience can understand what is happening. The costume of the police man is very distinguishable as he chases after the criminal whereas the male protagonist's detective suit and hat easily get across he is a detective.

The choice of setting, a high suburban rooftop is very important as this is a perfect example to fit both the chase scene and his fear of heights inside. If he had been chasing the criminal through ground level streets we wouldn't have been able to find out he had a fear of heights as well as if he was dangling from such a high roof top. Choice of setting is important as it is used to reveal important features of the male protagonist which is an important weakness that follows him throughout the film.

EDITING

Repetitive match on action is used throughout this chase scene so that the chase scene is fluid and pace is kept at a high not just as he runs after the dangerous criminal but also as he hangs dangling from the guttering for his life.

At the end of this chase scene it fades out into the next scene in a casual New York flat. This fade is appropriate compared to using just a straight cut. A fade is used because it depicts his incident on the roof like a memory as if he looks back on it frequently or as it was almost dream like.

Faster pace is created by shorter cuts as he starts to dangle from the guttering opposed to the chase across the rooftops so that we as an audience understand that dangling at such a height is more important and frightening for the male protagonist than chasing the criminal and we establish his fear of heights.

George

"The Birds" Thriller Opening

"The Birds" - 1963

BELOW: The opening scene from "The Birds"



CAMERAWORK

The fixed position of the camera in the opening's only shot creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia. The birds are very close to the camera and by not moving the camera further away or anywhere else it seems impossible to escape from the birds and it establishes them as a threat.

The shot is eye level so we are not looking down or up at the birds. This eye level shot allows us to see the birds very close up as a dominant threat apposed to watching them from far away.

These combined add a sense of claustrophobia and not being able to escape from the birds as only one shot is used.

MISE EN SCENE

The colour of the white sky against the black birds makes them stand out. The choice to film this opening scene in black and white helps to emphasise the birds and their power.By using only the birds in shot and no other props there is nothing for the audience to escape to whilst they birds fly past.

BELOW: The positioning of the birds close tot he camera is crucial for establishing the birds as the antagonist.

The positioning of the birds very close to the camera makes them seem much more threatening and much bigger. This establishes the birds as the menacing antagonist of the film.

SOUND

No other sound is used in the opening scene but the sounds of the birds flapping and sqwaking. No other diagetic or non diagetic sound is used e.g.  non diagetic sound track or other natural diagetic sounds from the sky like planes. This too enforces the mood throughout this opening of no escape.

The diagetic sound of the birds peaks and falls like normal birds and gets very loud to emphasise their evil presencee. A sound bridge is also used from the opening company credits into the shot of the birds (seen at 0:06 seconds in video above) These few seconds of off stage diagetic sound of the birds where the audience can only hear the birds not see them can arouse panic as they can hear the threatening birds but are unable to see them.

EDITING

The whole opening scene is one shot and this enforces a feeling of not being able to escape and by changing the footage to black and white the birds stand out.

The titles and credits appear as the birds flap past the camera and the way the titles appear resembles a spray of bullet fire and has sinister connotations and moves with the rhythm of the birds to emphasise them whilst reading titles and credits, as is the titles are part of the birds. 

BELOW: an example of the titles and credits appearing in unison with the birds to emphasise their presence.

Instead of creating pace through changing shot of the birds. The pace is instead created by the movement of the birds instead of the change in camera angle or shot size.

George

"I AM LEGEND" Thriller Opening

I Am Legend - 2007

SOUND

In the recorded news report there is no sound but the interviewee's voice. No non-diagetic soundtrack is used so that as well as the report seeming more convincing it also doesn't distract the audience from information that is important for the rest of the film.

The first non-diagetic sound effect is once the screen goes black there is a meanacing boom from an orchestra drum.This sound alone connotes that what she has just said may have gone wrong without having to narrate a length story of how it went wrong.

In the chase scene the diagetic roar of the car is emphasised and is almost like the roar of a predator who in the wild would chase the deer and this displays Will Smith, the protagonist, as a predator in his wild environment.

The shots of New York have no non-diagetic soundtrack and the natural jungle sounds seem incongruous with what we know of New York.

CAMERA WORK

The filming of the TV emphasises it was in the past. It also adds mood and the blurry TV image seems quite sinister. Also the view of the TV makes us feel we are actually watching it from our homes as if it was actually going to effect us and adds realism. The blurry recorded TV picture also seems distant and already connotes something may have gone wrong.

BELOW: The news report recorded from the TV through the camera seems sinister

The first establishing shot of extreme long shot tilt surveying the city shows the huge impact on the city and establishes what went wrong without lengthy oral narration.

The cliche images of stereotypical New York are shown to be morphed by the jungle undergrowth and morphs the audiences normal perspectives of reality.

ABOVE: A morphed picture of cliched images of New York changing the audiences perception of New York.

A birds eye view of only his car moving  through the deserted streets emphasises how alone he is.

MISE EN SCENE

Even though recorded off TV the shot is still very dark and no other props are used in shot this means the audience are not distracted from important information that they may miss if there was brighter lights in shot or distracting props.

The positioning of the cars either crashed  or under water establishes death, desertion and being alone. The mix between the dark undergrowth and the ambient sunlight seems like the jungle. Both these combined try to convince the audience New York, a once bustling city, is now deserted.

The setting is vital in this extract as well. If the piece was filmed in a country village it wouldn't have such a big impact on the audience. However the choice of New York, a urban mega city, would be the last place expected to seem deserted or consumed in jungle. Because New York is so stereotypically busy and industrialised it seems uneasy and spooky for the audience to see it deserted and overgrown.

BELOW: The deserted overgrown streets of New York seem incongruous with audiences normal perception of New York.

EDITING

Long straight cuts are used on the shots of New York buildings and the length of these cuts emphasises how deserted it is. If quick cuts were used it would seem as if there was something there or hiding that would require a faster pace however the deserted streets combined with long straight cuts connotes the emptiness of a once bustling city.

A subtitle is used in the XLS establishing shot saying "THREE YEARS LATER" to establish time instead of the audience having to guess what time period it is.

ABOVE: A subtitle is used in the first establishing shot to immediately denote the time period.

When the news report has ended a straight cut to black is used to separate it from the establishing shot. A straight cut is used apposed to a fade or wipe because a fade or wipe wouldn't emphasise the tension needed to show that the interviewees cure for cancer backfired.
 A straight cut to black for a few seconds connotes the passing of time without a fade which wouldn't have enough impact on the audience.

George

"The Interpreter" Thriller Opening

The Interpreter - 2005

MISE EN SCENE

When the female protagonist starts to run to escape the corridors she runs through seem never ending and repetitive as if she is lost. This is achieved by minimal use of props in the corridors so the mind can't landmark upon certain props in the corridors. This minimal use involves the audience in her escape and they feel lost also.

ABOVE: Minimal use of props makes the audience feel lost with the character

When it cuts to the second scene in the bar, the high-key lighting of the bar contrasts with the low-key lighting of her excaping previously. This suggests a massive contrast between the two places and characters.

The use of very dark lighting in the room the female protagonist is sneaking through immediatley communicates to the audience she shouldn't be there and make the audience ask questions as to WHY she is there and WHAT she is doing.

When she closes the curtains later on in the protagonist's appartment the lighting is much darker and thsi adds tot he fear of her expression when she hears the phone. The change in lighting as she goes from the curtains open to shut displays the change in mood.

CAMERA WORK

As the female protagonist escapes across the empty nightime car park a high angle extreme long shot is used to emphasise teh size of the buildings against her and emphasises how small she seems as she runs away in fear.

ABOVE: High angle XLS to show how dominatingly powerful the buildings are compared to her.
As the female protagonist runs through the corridors close ups of her shoes are shown to reinforce her escape and that she is running for her life. This will also engage the audience as they understand how scared she is and how determined she is to escape.

As the lights flicker on in the room there are also close ups on her face to show her expression change from determination to fear very quickly.

EDITTING

As the female protagonist starts to run through the endless corridors and stairwells the amount of cuts increase and simple straight cuts are used effectivly to communicate her speed. A straight cut is the most appropriate cut for this sequence as a fade or wipe would suggest time has passed and wouldn't communicate her speed or pace as well as a straight cut which is immediate.

An eye line match is constructed as we see from her P.O.V of the rows of seats in the building she is sneaking into. This subjective eye line match allows us to engage with teh character instead of simply watching her and to engage with her at this point is important as the audience will need to feel the rush of escape when the protagonist starts to run as well.

BELOW: Eye line match helps us to engage with the female protagonoist

Match on action is used several times in her escape sequence as she drives herself through doors and this further simulates that we are following her out fo the building.

SOUND

The voice on the radio that comes in insid ethr oom is loud to show that this voice is important and so that the audience realise the voice is in another language. The voice is also quite sinister as we hear the crackling foreign voice through the radio but no character of whom the voice could be coming from on screen. This creates a sinister mood to the loud radio voice and alienate sthe audience.

The non-diagetic sound track is beating loud orchestra drums that could be used to replicate her heart rate racing as she escapes through the doors. However just before the non diagetic soundtrack begins we only hear silence and thsi silence allows us to hear her heavy breathing which humanises the female protagonist and communicates the fear running through her.

As the protagonist runs through the corridors her footsteps are loud echoing through the corridors and yet again this is to emphasise her escape.

At the end of the first scene a sound bridge is used intot he next scene in the bar. The music being played in the bar soundbridges over from the XLS of the protagonists running through the car park. This sound bridge is used to show that these two characters are linked but the upbeat Beatles track seems incongruous and juxtapoises with the previous escape sequence.

George

#2 Thriller Opening: Memento

Memento [2000]
Directed by Christopher Nolan



SOUND
The non digetic sound comes from the musical sound track. It is slow and string-based, both unusual for a thriller. It builds to a climax at the end of the music building suspense in the audience. The non digetic sound is also  parallel to the image. The Foley is enhanced greatly, especially the cameras flash, instating its importance for the rest of the film. There is no dialogue, but there is a scream at the end, shaking the audience.

CAMERA
Typically of a thriller, all of the shots are close ups, big close ups or extreme close ups. Each of these allows the audience to see the characters facial expressions, while giving the impression of normal human viewpoint. A majority of the introduction is taken up with an extreme close up of a Polaroid. [0:00 - 1:16], this is because it is important. It also raises the question, 'Who is in the Polaroid?'. Raising questions is a key part of a successful thriller. It also includes foregrounding and many low angle shots.

ABOVE- Extreme close up

ABOVE- Extreme close up of bullet


MISE EN SCENE
As in Inception, the protagonist is dressed in pale colours, while the antagonist is dressed in dark colours, enforcing the stereotype of good and bad. However, the protagonist also wears a dark shirt, enforcing the notion in the audiences heads that perhaps all is not as it seams with the protagonist, which is reinstated when we realise that protagonist Leonard Shelby [Guy Pearce] has killed Teddy [Joe Pantoliano]. Its uses the typical thriller setting; naturalistic and urban. The setting is also inclosed and claustriphobic, another thriller trait.The use of lighting crates a dark atmosphere creating suspense.

ABOVE-Protagonist in pale colours, but dark top.
BELOW-Antagonist in dark colours.

EDITING
This film is very interesting in editing terms as this opening is in reverse. This creates a lot of suspense for the audience, and also asks a lot of questions. However, it still complies to stereotypical thriller editing techniques, like straight fast cuts and a fade at the beginning.

By Chloe Hobden

#1 Thriller Opening: Inception

Inception [2010]
Directed by Christopher Nolan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXkUzf1et4
[Copyright blocks us from embedding the video]

SOUND
The first sound you hear is the movies non digetic soundtrack. The music builds up the tension in the audience and acts as a sound bridge to the next scene. Twice, the digetic sound is enhanced, a common trait in thriller films. First the digetic sound of the waves is enhanced to show their importance, and the spinney top sound is enhanced also. This for grounding of the sounds tell the audience that these specific objects will be important later on in the film. The film also uses contrapuntal non digetics over the image of the happy children playing.

CAMERA
Like many thrillers, there are a lot of close ups and big close ups in this opening. This shot is common because it is the best shot to see the characters expressions.There is also a good example of eye line match [0:37 - 0:44] Using a low angle shot of the castle on the hill, the audience becomes aware of that the person in the castle is of high importance, and is of higher status than the protagonist. The camera also tracks into the spinney top, reinstating importance.

 ABOVE- Example of close up

 ABOVE AND BELOW- Example of eye line match

ABOVE- Low angle shot

MISE EN SCENE
The setting, a beach, is normal considered tranquil, but with addition of the imposing waves [0:16 - 0:26] gives a sense of foreboding and isolation. Dom Cobb [Leonardo DiCaprio] is the protagonist and is dressed appropriately in pale colours, reinforcing his 'goodie' status. However Mr. Saito [Ken Watanabe], the rich Asian man, is dressed in black, instantly conditioning the audience to believe that he is the antagonist. We can can also tell by the setting that Mr. Saito is a man of wealth as he lives in the castle and lavishly dresses his home.

 ABOVE- Imposing waves, giving the audience tension and suspense.

ABOVE- Mise en scene make Mr. Satio appear rich
EDITING
As far as editing goes in this clip, all of the cuts are simple, straight cuts. This is odd as most thrillers use fast cuts to create pace. Nolan also uses a fade to show DiCaprio slipping in and out of a dream like state.

By Chloe Hobden