Research for Thriller Openings - Seven - Mathew Garrett

SEVEN

• Restricted narration - We don't know whats happening at first. We are put in the place of a character in the film


• Protagonist - We are introduced to a character at the beginning of the film, Somerset, which could be the protagonist. Most likely the protagonist as we are rarely introduced to the villain at the beginning of the story


• Enigma code - We are introduced to the story quite quickly and we now see that the character is the protagonist and that this film is about murder


• It begins like this so that we see what Somerset's job is and what he has to deal with everyday. We also find out that Somerset is possibly retiring or facing retirement. Another detective at the crime scene says "We are all gonna be real glad when we get rid of you"


• Antagonist - The other Detective can be seen as an Antagonist as he doesn't seem to like Somerset very much and is rude towards Somerset


• Brad Pitt's character, Detective Mills, is also seen as the Protagonist in this film although he is new to the area we see that all he wants to do is make a difference


• After being introduced to Detective Mills, we find out that Somerset is quitting and Mills is taking over his job in "seven days"


• We are not usually introduced to the main story so quickly. Non thrillers such as Twilight, which is a romantic fantasy film, we don't find out about the main subject of the film, vampires, until later on in the film, as apposed to right at the beginning


• Binary opposition - Mills and Somerset are facing murders, nothing like Mills has seen before. Meaning this is a rough city where murder is common

Character: Somerset

• A lieutenant coming to the end of his career


• Organised - Suit laid out, Picking dust carefully off of his jacket. Not crumpled, but neat and tidy. He has his things lined up on a desk ready for work. He is meticulous in the way that he gets ready, slowly putting on his tie


• He has a routine of all his things as if he has been doing the same things every morning for years


• Hes alone in his apartment. There are no signs of any other person living with him


• He looks smart and intellectual as he dresses smartly and we see a chess board which makes we associate with intelligence. Also he is reading a hardback book rather than a normal paper one


• He looks experienced in the way that he is attentive in his work


• He cares about others such as the families of the victims, even though it is not his job or duty to do so


• He seems quite calm and relaxed throughout the whole opening of the film in the way that he talks and carries himself

Character: Mills

• Mills is a Detective


• Hes young


• Seems Naive


• Quite cocky, thinks hes seen everything


• Fairly confident in his line of work


• Very persistent - We see that he fought to be assigned to this particular city where there is a high rate of murder


• Appears to be judgemental - He judges Somerset before he even got to know him and Somerset knows this


• He ran up the stairs at the crime scene, which could suggest a number of things such as he was late, he is keen, or just energetic