Textual Analyses of Thriller Openings

In order to be able to create a film opening sequence to fit into the thriller genre, I needed to research what these openings usually include. For this, I analysed the openings of:

1. The Day After Tomorrow (2008)- A Disaster Thriller
2. The Manchurian Candidate (2004)- A Conspiracy Thriller
3. The Sixth Sense (1999)- A Psychological Thriller

These were fairly modern films, films I felt would use modern techniques in their openings that would be relevant to the audience I was aiming my own film at.

1. The Day After Tomorrow

Credits:

-Black screen, straight clear font positioned at bottom of screen.

-Titles quite small, look business-like, no effects just fade in and out.

-Music quite eery, classical, like an orchestra.

-Colours are simple.

-Throughout the credits the setting is shown, camera pans quickly over the setting in order to build tension and set a quick pace.

Opening:

-Date and time used to set setting.

-Sound of the wind is atmospheric, brings in the theme of climate that is vital to the film.

-Fast action and camera movement lets the audience know its going to be a fast-paced film, like a thriller typically is.

-Sound of machinery also builds tension, foreshadows that something is going to go wrong.

-Silence is effective along with a close-up of character's face as realisation hits them.

-Aerial shots help to set the scene, (relevant to such a large motion picture, may not be possible in own production)

-Music: drums to build tension, aswell as sound of ice cracking.

-Relevant props: machines, costumes suitable for climate and time setting which is modern. Props also indicate setting is modern-day.

-Lighting is bright, as daytime and set in ice which is bright.

Opening gets straight into action, which is typical of a thriller and follows conventions of keeping audience on edge.

2. The Manchurian Candidate

Credits:

-Black screen.

-Titles in colours of American flag, works as politics are a strong theme throughout the film.

-Effects on titles, move like a flag.

-Like The Day After Tomorrow though, font is small in size and plain, no curled effects.

-Titles in middle of screen.

-Music is upbeat, more modern, contrast with the black screen and effects on titles that build tension.

Opening:

-Medium shot of soldiers playing cards, sets scene of war setting.

-Modern style reggae music that contrasts with the setting of inside the tank.

-Titles still in corner.

-Close up of faces to introduce characters.

-At first, the atmosphere seems calm, with little tension. However contrasted with the setting this is daunting as you expect something to go wrong.

-Straight cut, natural style editing.

-Sounds of voices over music.

-Cuts to long shot of war scene, quiet- sounds of wind.

-Again, date and time used to set setting.

-Silence used for tension.

-Main characters on own introduced in individual shots.

-Props fit with the army, military costumes.

-Lighting more subdued in van.

Overall, The Manchurian Candidate follows similar conventions in terms of the titles, and that the films begins with action, yet the tension here is less obvious.

3. The Sixth Sense

Credits:

-Black screen.

-Small plain titles in centre screen.

-Titles fade in and out.

-Slow transition to build tension.

-Music is eery, orchestral again.

-Violins along with slow fade of titles build more tension as this is a psychological thriller, instantly get the audience in the eery mood.

Opening:

-Music carries on to continue building tension.

-Fade in to close up of bright lightbulb, abstract shot.

-Silence as medium shot of woman coming towards camera in the cellar, gives impression someone is watching her. Silence is eery.

-Lighting is dark, sets the mood.

-Cuts to medium shot of couple in home, sets the scene.

-Quiet music and hustled talking, change of shots adds mystery, almost seems as though its not in chronological order.

-Long shot of house in darkness and use of shadows build suspense.

-Sounds of glass cracking seems natural in contrast with the music that builds tension.

-Straight cut editing.

-Close up of faces to show reactions, personal.

Sixth sense uses the same technique of understated titles and music in order to build suspense. Like the other two, it uses a combination of digetic and non-digetic sound and i like the effect this brings to the opening.