Ed Boyce- Thriller opening research

Thriller films that Ive chosen to look at and research:

• The Dark Knight
  
• One Hour Photo
• Seven
• Memento
• The Matrix
  

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight opening scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1YF9ZuVD-w&feature=related

Mise en scene:

At the beginning of the film we have an establishing shot. The location is that of a typical urban city. Urban areas are usually used for thrillers. The camera switches to a one of the buildings windows being smashed by a harpoon type of gun, this adds suspense.
The setting then changes to inside a bank.

We also see men carrying guns which is a standard prop in many thrillers, this represents iconography.
We cannot see any facial expressions in this opening scene as all the men wear masks. The fact that they are wearing masks suggests that they are going to commit a crime.

Camera Work
The first shot we see is a high angle establishing shot which sets the scene well for the audience.

Sound
The sound used in this opening scene is what you would expect to find in a thriller. The music is suspense building which then quickens in the action scenes.

Why it's a good thriller

Enigma code is used in the opening scene. This starts when we see the men with masks on, this raises the question as to why they are wearing masks. It becomes clear that they are going to rob the bank, but then we see one of the robbers killing other robbers. This again raises the question as to what the intention of this robber is. Thrillers are usually filled with plots twists to confuse and shock the audience. As a opening this strange turn of events intices the watcher to find out and watch on. As we are introduced to the strange 'joker' character this is enhanced because of his strange make up and personality. The cunning plots in the film make it a great thriller in my opinion.
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One Hour Photo








What sort of person is the main character?

• The main character seems to be a 'normal person'. His clothing is normal and his haircut as well, nothing stands out to us through mise en scene in this form.
• As for personality he seems calm, although this could be misleading as he is being interviewed by a detective in a police station.
  
• It seems strange for a 'normal, calm' person like this to be in that situation therefore i think there is something strange about him. He also asks a rather random question about if they have their own lab, which again makes us think why he would say this.

How do you feel about the main character?

• I feel sorry for the main character. He seems very confused and not thinking straight. This is portraited when he turns the wrong way when asked to.
  
• I also feel sorry for him because he is isolated. The long shot we are given of him sitting in the interview room on his own isolates him behind the desk. Also the colour of the walls is plain white and he stands out in the middle of the shot.

Analyse the opening credits

• This film is a Thriller and the opening credits portrait this. The background is black with small text in the middle. The sound we here is a sinister music, with deep pulses of bass in time with a light flashing behind the text. I think the reason for them to do this is because it is a thriller, the music sets suspense. I think the light flashing behind the text is relevant to the title 'One Hour Photo' as it is flashing like a camera.

The setting

• The setting sets a serious tone to the film. The first shot we see is in as police station, the atmosphere that this creates
  

The flashback

• The way that mise en scene is used here in the main characters facial expression. It is a blank, still expression that gives us the idea that he is thinking. Music then fades into this shot, starting quietly and getting louder given the audience the sense that we are going somewhere.
  
• Editing has been used to slowdown the footage we see in the flash back. This gives us the sense that it is not the present. Also we can hear the main characters voice while we here the sounds of the characters in the flashback.

Atmospheres of the two places

• The police station is very quiet, we can hear every little sound that occurs such as footsteps. This is a big contrast to the garden, which is alive with the sound of lots of people.
• The setting is very different as well because of the colours used. The garden is green with bright colours, green represents life and the happiness in the garden. The police station is bare white again giving us that very sense of seriousness.

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Seven













Seven (stylized as Se7en) is a 1995 American crime film directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. The story follows a retiring detective (Morgan Freeman) and his replacement (Bradd Pitt), jointly investigating a series of ritualistic murders inspired by the seven deadly sins.

Opening Credits
The opening credits to Seven are very unique and some of the best.

• We first see white writing on a back ground, which is pretty standard however the writing is scratchy and sinister.
• We see someone scraping off there finger prints, this indicates us that someone is going to commit a crime. This raises questions to us who and why.
• This credits are quite disorientating, there is a lot of flashes and in general they are very crude and sinister.
  

Characters
Detective Mills - (Brad Pitt)

• Casually dressed when compared to Detective Summerset. He wears a shirt and tie but it is crumpled and doesn't sit in a neat fashion.
• Young, probably early 30s.
• Arrogant. I get this impression from the way he chews his chewing gum with and open mouth. Also when bumped into in the street he seems to want a confrontation suggesting he is cocky.
  
• He runs up the stairs we get the impression that he is energetic or just last. He is not as precise as Detective Summerset, who we would not see run up the stairs.

Detective Summerset - (Morgan Freeman)

• Old and wise. Been in the job a long time and is a veteran.
• Very different to Detective Mills. He is very precise and organized. We see him wake up on time and his items are prepared the night before. He does the same routine each day.
  
• Seems to look down on Detective Mills, probably because he is new to the area and Summerset is a master in the area.
• We also get the impression he is very intelligent, as we see him reading a hardback book and a chessboard at the start. Both are seen as intellectual items.

• This is the first murder we are shown. Murder is something you would expect in a thriller as it creates the drama.
• The first murder is thrust upon us and it is surprising. This is a good example of enigma code as it makes us start to question why this happened, who the killer was etc.
• We also see blood here which is iconography as this is something typically in thrillers.

I personally thought this was a very good thriller opening. The Murder we see instantly lets us know that there is killer on the lose and you want to find out who did it and why. The opening credits are also very intriguing and really set the scene for a crime thriller.
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Memento










Memento opening scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR5qO9yyQUg
The Memento opening scene is very intrigueing. It starts with a hand holding a picture. The picture shows a gory image. The hand shakes the picture and it fades which makes us wonder whats happen. It then becomes clear that time is in reverse. It then clicks in that we are about to witness what that picture showed, this is a great suspense builder and a unique technique.

• We then see the murder take place. This shot includes blood, guns-icongraphy.

Enigma codes

• Why did this murder take place?
• Why show it in this time order?
• Why take a picture of it?

These things bring questions to our minds as to why the opening is presented this way.

There is also a scene in this opening of the main character in a hotel room. It is in black in white,the reason i think this was done was to show his confusion as he is thinking.

Sound
The music at trhe beggining of the scene is sorrowful. It sets the tone of the movie.

Mise en scene

• The location is urban like most thrillers
• The location in the film changes to a more deserted house with low key lighting, where the murder takes place.
• The characters are normally dressed.

I think this is a great thriller opening. The reversed time technique is a great suspense builder and quite different from any other films. It really plays with you mind and lets you into the complex plot of the film.
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The Matrix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pBmM9R80_A

• In the openoing credits we see strange green writing/codes/numbers , its hard to make out what this is and its purpose, but with the sound effects it sounds like something futuristic.
• The green text on black background is something military like.
• We then see police holding guns (iconography), the lighting is very dark and it sets the mood at the thriller, because they obviously want to shoot someone for some reason.

Enigma Codes

• Who are the police trying to arrest/kill?
  
• We wonder who this women is and who are the people chasing her?
• Why are they chasing her, why is she so wanted?

The build up before opening the door adds suspense that is relieved in a high action chase scene.


Ed Boyce