1. Title Sequences: Thrillers
Film: Hostage (2005)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Florent Emilio Siri
Screenplay: Doug Richardson
Producers: Bruce Willis, Bob Yari, Arnold Rifkin, Mark Gordon
The movie Hostage features an incredibly crafted title sequence which for me is one of the
most memorable parts. This title sequence was created by just one man: Laurent Brett and
his initial inspiration came from Frank Miller’s Sin City comics. It immediately places the
viewer right in the centre of a crime scene taking place in one of LA’s suburbs. The scene is
rendered in black and white contrasting colours, with deep blood red as the only supporting
colour. Dark colours such as black and red are very conventional within the thriller genre;
they both create feels of danger. Red is the colour of blood, so can be associated with
energy, war, danger, rage and anger, whilst black can be associated with death, evil and
mystery. The camera pans across the scene, alternating between wide and close shots
which builds the tension. This tension is further created by the haunting instrumental that
plays throughout the titles, accompanied by the occasional sound of faint sirens which can
suggest the scene we are in. Below are a selection of screenshots from the title sequence,
where there is a clear theme amongst colour (red/black/white) and font (large/bold).
Use of
shadows
to create
mystery
and
tension,
essential
ina thriller
Followsatheme of red,blackand white
whichare darkand contrastingcolours-
conventional withinthe genre
Boldfontwhichcontrastsfrom
backgroundto standout
Scenesof the
cityto establish
location
Features
weapons- a
convention
withinthe
genre and
suggest
something
violentwill
take place
Titleswrittenon
police tape:givesidea
on the scenarioand
type of filmitwill be
