Analysis of Film Openings

Analysis of Film Openings.

In class we were set a task to view three film openings and write down all the effects, sounds and basic symbols and methods used in a thriller. The three films we looked at were The Book of Eli (2009), Brick (2006) and Gothika (2003).  These are three different films which cover most of the known thrillers of today.

The Book of Eli

As the film begins, there is a flash of white and it fades out into a wood with the trees darkening the screen. Shadows are also forming all over the woods due to the trees. This is one key symbol of a thriller. It gives off with a message of danger and something is about to happen as it is in the dark and many things can be unseen. The trees are naked with hardly any leaves on which shows its in the winter which gives that cold feeling and desperation straight from the start. The ash falling down also sends a message of danger as it relates with fire. It is also ironic in a way as this opening is cold and empty, but the use of falling ash resembles heat and burnt up objects which aren’t seen in the shot, so this indicates there is warmth somewhere else. When the camera goes low on the ground of the woods, the gun lying on the floor brings out that thriller of danger and death. The first sighting of the hand,  which isn’t moving, sends alarming signs to the audience that this body isn’t moving and possibly dead. It is next to the gun so this brings in thoughts of weather it was a shoot off or the gun was planted there or it was a suicide. The slow movement of the camera builds tension and makes you want to find out who killed the body and where they are now. When the camera fixes on the man hiding in a tree stump, the audience can not see him at first which makes you think why are we focusing on this part of the wood why not the body? The close up identifies the character  and informs the audience that this person has a arrow and gas mask which sets the place as the air isn’t clear and they are using silent weapons to kill. When the arrow is shot, the effect of slow motion is used which makes the arrow look threatening and ready to pierce something. The sound builds as the scene starts; it isn’t loud or dramatic, but rather quiet and mysterious as it builds tension throughout the whole scene.

Brick

This film takes a different approach to the thriller genre. It starts off with running water of a stream in a city. You watch the water trickle down as it then hits this dead body lying on the side of the bank. This thriller starts with a death which sends a message out to audience that there has been a murder or a accident. They use the idea of shadows with the bridge and underneath it. It also starts early morning so it shows not many people would have been about when this death took place. When you see the second character you begin to make assumptions that he either killed her or is just as friend of the victim. There is this close up shot on the hand, which has a bracelet on it, in the river with water flowing over it as if her life is draining away. This opening shot gives a sense of isolation as well as it is in a river which has wall on either side, and as if you are closed in with them and cant get out and have to look at the dead body lying still and lifeless. The music is sad and makes the audience feel they are in morning. This opening flips the story straight away by turning back the clocks and flying back two weeks before and you see the hand with the same bracelet putting a note in a locker of a college. This shows the audience that this character that was lying dead in a river two weeks later was alive. This proves that you have seen the ending and makes you want to find out what happens to her which results in her death. This creates dramatic irony as now the audience know what’s going happen but the characters don’t. The close ups build tension as you see the face expressions clearly and the emotion of the characters. When the boy is told to meet the girl on the corner of the street you feel this isolation again as there’s no one else on the street or any cars passing. This tension and feeling grows as he answers a call in a phone booth which makes him even more cramp and isolated. When you hear the girl crying you get the feeling of something bad has or is about to happen.

Gothika

This film focuses on the psycho thriller. As film starts you hear the music which is dark and mysterious. The use of string instruments made the opening scary and gothic. Then it shows a close up of a woman who is psychotic as she talks about killing her father. She has no make up and is crying. Another point about her make up is that she has a red nose which shows she could be cold or ill She has a lack of control which shows the audience her craziness. It also makes you think why has she killed her father? The way the cameras move around the room from going out of the close up shot to middle shots has a really good effect as it keeps the audience looking and wanting to know why this women is being interviewed. The way the camera moves around the room makes it as if you as the audience aren’t suppose to be here, like you are intruding this private conversation. The cage gives this feeling of isolation. The darkness of the room lets out shadows and lets in little light showing that this inst a nice place and you shouldn’t be here. The light seems as if it’s trying to get in to the room to invade the darkness. The amount of security in the opening scene backs up this idea that this isn’t a safe place and proves that this woman isn’t safe to be with due to her state of mind.