Nikita's Thriller Opening: Thriller Opening

You will consider and explore:
• How does the opening engage/create interest for the audience?
• Does it establish characters? How?
• Does the opening introduce themes, mood or story/narrative? How?
• How are the opening titles displayed?
• How is enigma established?

What you will need to analyse:
• Mise-en-scene;
• Use of soundtrack;
• Use of diegetic sound;
• Editing;
• Camera shot, movement and position;
• Use of special effects.

The Usual Suspects

SCREENSHOT 1

The opening of this film engages and creates interest for the audience because of its immediate beginning. By this I mean it straight away begins a scene of a man sitting and lighting a cigarette (SCREENSHOT 1). This immediately grasps the audience and engages interest because they are observing this happening and will want to start guessing and want to watch more of it to find out what the film will be about. The opening does establish the first man who the audience see's in some way. The reason why is because this man is sitting in a sort of warehouse smoking (SCREENSHOT 1) - and in (SCREENSHOT 2) he is lighting a line of oil across the floor. He appears very suspicious and has a 'don't care' attitude and also shows no remorse for himself or the body that is on the floor. As for the themes, mood and story/narrative - this is introduced slightly. Themes for starters is introduced in the very beginning (SCREENSHOT 1), where the audience can take a guess that the film's theme will be action or thriller. Furthermore as for the mood of the opening/film this is shown in (SCREENSHOT 5,6 AND 7) - because the man is just a figure throughout the opening and the audience do not see him at all, besides from his black coat and his hand. This creates a very intense and mysterious mood which engages the audience more. Lastly the story/narrative is introduced from (SCREENSHOT 7 - 12) this is because from 01:55 - 02:57 the 'unknown' figure sets alight the warehouse in which they are in after shooting the man whom he was conversing with. Enigma is established through the 'unknown' man. This is because the audience are completely unaware of who he is and why he appeared all of a sudden (SCREENSHOT 4), exchanged a few words with the other man (SCREENSHOT 5 & 6) and then kill him (SCREENSHOT 7) and set the building alight, then escaping (SCREENSHOT 10 - 12). This causes mystery and puzzles the audience hugely. Also at the very beginning the man (SCREENSHOT 1) is sitting in a building lighting a cigarette and looks as if he is completely drained. This is unusual and therefore is where enigma is established.

Mise-en-scene in this opening would be the building in which the scenes take place. The arrangement of the building such as the boxes and ropes and stairs appear to be warehouse materials, also cylinders of oil are leaking in the building. This sort of scenery and properties represent the place where this opening was enacted because of the way in which they are dangerous equipment to be near and it is very risky if you do. It links with the scenes that happen during this opening (SCREENSHOT 1-12) because of the way in which the actors use their surroundings and scenery as part of their acting and scenes. The use of the soundtrack from 00:30 - 02:49 is very effective. This soundtrack used causes the audience to feel the tension rising as the opening progresses. Also the way in which the soundtrack is made louder at specific points in the opening emphasizes how important and drastic these points are. Diegetic sound is used during the part where the 'unknown' man is walking down the stairs and approaching the man sitting on the floor (SCREENSHOT 4) his footsteps are sounded as well as the soundtrack. Also the gunshots (SCREENSHOT 7) are a good use of diegetic sound. Lastly diegetic sound is used in the very last part of the opening where police sirens are sounded, these sounds used are highly effective and gave the opening more suspense and character. The camera shots used in (SCREENSHOT 3) was panning and in (SCREENSHOT 4) it was a closeup of the ropes but also you can see the man figure in the background. The movement and positioning of the camera were effective throughout because of the way in which the camera was used to not confuse the audience but to show them difference parts of the building in which this was taking place, this gave the audience a slight image in their minds of what the scenery looked like which would enable them to be more engaged to the film. Last but not least the use of special effects in (SCREENSHOT 12) was highly effective because of the way in which the explosion looked very real and very intense, this would have grasped the audience immediately and almost permanently because of its dramatic sense.