Classic Thriller Openings.

To help us with our final thriller film sequence, we have been looking at, and analysing, existing thriller opening sequences. This gives us ideas of what types of camera shots to use, as well as what music to use etc.

We began by looking at what makes a film a thriller.

• Enigma
• Suspense
• Mystery
• Action
  
• Usually murder, deaths etc.

Then we started analysing the different thriller openings;
'North By Northwest'

• This film is directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
  
• It beginsn with a great deal of lines on the screen, which are typical conventions of thriller films.
  
• The lines connote prisons, or being locked up.
• They also make the viewer feel claustrophobic, again representing being locked up or trapped.
  
• The film name is typically shown at the beginning of thrillers, this can sometimes give the narrative away, though never in great detail.
• This particular thriller is known a comedy thriller, however there are only few comedic elements within the film.
  
• The title sequence then dissolves into the establishing shot of a building, revealing where the opening scene is set, and perhaps where most of the film is set.
• The transitions that dissolve often indicate that it is still in the same location, whereas harsh cuts could mean that it has changed location.
• The high angle shot makes the people or characters seem less significant.
  

'Vertigo'

• The word 'Vertigo' means the fear of heights.
  
• This title sequence begins with an extreme close up of a womens nose and mouth, which instantly sets up the enigma. Who is it? etc.
• The mystery of who she is, is reinforced by the soundtrack.
  
• The camera then explores her face (Still an ECU), which still unables us to identify her.
  
• The camera then approaches her eye, and zooms in. The screen is then transformed by a red tint; connoting danger, evil or death.
  
• The pupil of the eye is then centralised in the the screen. Which could indicate that her eyes are the most important part of her face.
• The title of the film, 'Vertigo', then comes out of her eye, as if from the brain, which could suggest that vertigo (fear of heights) comes from the brain.
• A spiral then appears in the centre of the eye on a black background, which could represent dizzyness or being hypnotised. It could also reflect the fear of height - falling, black hole etc.
• The spiral then gradually evolved into a more complex pattern, becoming very like hypnotism , which could represent being controlled.
  
• The large spiral pattern moves around in slow motion, and is accompanied by suspense-like music.
  

'Touch of Evil'

• The sound track to this opening is very unique, it slightly resembles the ticking of a clock.
  
• It shows the timer/or bomb, being placed in the car.
  
• The lighting is dim, lots of shadows.
• The tension is built up as the camera follows certain people.
  
• There is cheerful diegetic sound.
• People cross over and in and out of camera shots - very naturalistic.
• The car eventually blows up, but the camera lingers on several different people before it happens which throws the viewer of course slightly.
• This is the longest opening to follow the narrative of the bomb in the car - meeting several characters along the way, before it eventually blows up.

'Kiss Me Deadly'

• Begins with a women running, there is very tense, loud, non-diegetic music.
  
• She seems very panicked, running away from something? running after someone?
  
• She has no shoes and is running down the highway at night time, as it is dark. Lots of questions are thrown at the viewer, mysteries etc. Who is she? Why is she running? Where are her shoes?
  
• Along with the non-diegetic music, there is her loud diegetic panting. Which suggests shes been running for a while.
• Drum beats, create tension.
  
• She stops a car as it drives towards her.
• The soundtrack then becomes diegetic as we hear romantic music on the radio in the car.
• The driver then lets her in.
• The titles come up whilse the camera follows the car from behind. The titles scroll up backwards, meaning they have to be read backwards. They also obscure the view and are very distracting - increasing the mystery of the narrative.
• Scene then cuts to the front of the car, (titles now gone), and the driver starts asking the women questions. The same questions that the viewer wants answers to.
  
• They end up being stopped by the police; who inform them that they are looking for a women (her). They get passed the police though, as the man pretends she is his wife.
• They then arrive at a place, and she asks someone to post a letter for her. She pulls out a letter and hands it over. Bigger mystery - Whats in the letter? Why couldnt she post it herself? etc.

'Blade Runner'

• Begins with black background.
• Titles then come up, music is quite calm, accompanies by loud drumming.
• Echoey eerie music, creates mystery and suspense.
• Drums create tension/suspense
• Nothing is seen, except for the black background - revealing the titles.
• Narrative is then introduced through caption. (still no images or film - black background) A tense boom sound as the writing comes up.
• Then war sounds can be heard, sirens etc. Non - music soundtrack.

'Marnie' - Alfred Hitchcock - Universal Pictures.

• Annxious string sounds as production company is revealed.
  
• Begins with shot of bright yellow bag - significant.
• Camera only focuses on bag. (Mystery) Whos holding it? Whats in it? Where is it?
  
• Gradually zooms out to reveal the back of a women, still carrying the bag. The bag is very significant - stands out.
• The camera follows her, from behind.
  
• She can not be identified yet.
  
• Slight establishing shot as she moves further away. Location is revealed.
  
• Camera focuses on bag - suggests its important, doesnt show womens face. Though she has extremely black hair.
  
• Cuts to scene of men talking, her name is clearly mentioned.
• Cuts back to women carrying bag as she approaches room.
• Big romantic strings in background.
  
• She approaches bed and changes her identity from the name we heard earlier to a new one.
• She is seen opening the bag, which has lots of money in it.
• She is then seen moving clothes from one suitcase to another - implying she is changing her identity.
• Five minutes into the film, and her face still hasnt been revealed.
• She walks over to sink and rinses her hair, black die comes out in water.
• BIG climax when her face is revealed as she waves her hair around, which is now blond. (new identity) - Big music.

'Defence Of the Relme'

• The atmosphere is set up with black background, eerie music - suspense.
• The titles show up.
• Narrative is being set up by the soundtrack - no images or clips. Just titles.
• Location and date is revealed on a blue background - still no images. 'Eastern England - August 9th' - Tells you where and when you are.
• Film is revealed.
  
• Abnormal shadows.
• Alienated - odd slanted camera angles to disorientate.
• Echo - dark
• The mise-en-scene is very effective in this.
  

There is lots of use of mirrors in thrillers, which give the sense of a distorted reflection of the world, or that the characters reflection represents the character is twofaced.