Thriller Openings

An opening to an film is very important as it sets the style, atmosphere and hints of foreboding events to come. The opening scene helps to set the mood of the film, and to get the audience's interest. Here are some examples of film openings we studied in class:

Memento

Conventions: weapons, blood, sets up an enigma

Camera: close-up shot and shot/reverse shot 

Editing: poleroid reversing

Sound: Non-diegetic and includes a narrator

Mise-en-scene: blood, black and white colours, broken window

Brick

Conventions: dead body

Camera: handheld camera gives more of a realistic/personal perspective, out of focus making the mood unsettling

Editing: graphic match     

Sound: non-diegetic music, non-diegetic dialogue, sound bridge

Mise-en-scene: dark, lockers implying a school setting

Zodiac

Conventions: mysterious driver adding to more mystery, gunshots, enigma

Camera: long establishing shot, point of view shot so audience see through the character's eyes, shot/reverse shot

Sound: non-diegetic sound, diegetic music and dialogue within the film world

Mise-en-scene: fireworks, dark, nighttime