The opening of the film 'Law Abiding Citizen' uses various camera shots, lighting, editing, and sound techniques to set up the thriller genre and themes of the film. Close-ups, medium shots, and over-the-shoulder shots are used to introduce the characters and their relationship. Dim, neutral lighting in the family home foreshadows something bad will happen. When the intruders enter, the scenes become shorter, faster cuts that build panic and suspense without showing the intruders' faces. Diegetic family sounds are replaced with ominous non-diegetic music as violence erupts, drawing the audience into the darkening situation.

1. ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Film opening
Shot types/angles/movements
They used a variety of shot types, movements and angles in the opening of the film. At the start a
close up is used showing the audience what the characters are doing. The father and the child are
doing a similar activity which displays to the audience that they have a strong relationship. Medium
shots are used so the audience can see each characters face. When the father is having a
conversation with his daughter shot reverse is used, this shows the two characters are looking at
each other. A double eye line match is used effectively. When the man opens the door an over the
shoulder shot is used so the audience feel as if they are behind the door seeing what the camera is
showing so they can what is happening when the door opens. When the man opens the door match
on action is used as the camera goes from his back to his face, as a result of this the audience cannot
tell who or what is at the door which creates an enigma code.
Visual style – lighting/colour
Neutral colours such as beige, white, ivory, and brown are used in the background. These colours are
used to represent to the audience that it is a family home. Neutral colours are seen as cosy, tranquil,
innocent and colours. Throughout the first scene the lighting is dim; this connotes that something is
about to go wrong.
Editing
In the beginning the scenes are quite long and then when the intruders burst in the clips become
shorter from one to another. This creates a sense of panic and doesn’t allow the audience to see the
faces of the intruders. After the victims are stabbed, black screens appear between the scenes
showing that the characters are blacking out. Focus is used in the opening when the guy is laying on
the floor and shows a figure (which is out of focus) in the background, the audience can see
something is there but doesn’t know what so this automatically creates an enigma code and gets the
audience thinking who is there. at the end of the opening scene it cuts to a black screen as the man
shuts his eyes this makes the audience wonder what happened to him and his family.
How does the opening suggest the genre or the themes of the film?
There was a substantial amount of low key lighting used. For example when the father and daughter
are working together the room is dim which forebode that something bad may happen in the
forthcoming scenes. Moreover this is shown when the antagonists enter the house and stab the wife
and kid, this is a typical convention of the thriller genre as it builds suspense for the audience.
Another feature of this film that represents the thriller genre is the non-diegetic music in the
background once the intruder has entered the house. The low pitch music creates a sharp cold
atmosphere that leaves the audience is fearful for the character's lives.

2. How is sound/music used to draw us into the world of the film?
In the opening scene the radio is playing which symbolises that is an ordinary family home to the
audience. The audience can see the father and daughter and you can hear the voice of the of a
woman when there is a knocking at the door saying ‘honey can you get that’ which shows the
audience that the mother is in the house but not present in the scene as she is busy in the kitchen.
As the man opens the door the diegetic sound of the radio which was slow and peaceful stops
playing in the background and just before he opens the door there is a second of silence which
creates suspense and creates enigma codes for the audience as it makes them think who’s behind
the door? Why has it gone quiet? Once the door is opened and the protagonist hits the man in the
head with a baseball bat the music changes to a sharp, loud, low pitch sound which kills off the nice
family vibe that was in the house. The music then changes to a daunting slow scary sound which
creates tension between the audiences. The mother is then introduced into the scene as she walks
into the lounge shouting “NO” as the men are tying up her husband. The woman is then thrown into
a glass cabinet and sound effects are used to make it realistic and break the quietness for a few
seconds then the music goes quiet until the woman screams in desperation “NO NO NO!” This
makes the audience feel sorry for the family as they’re are helpless against the two antagonists.
Then one of the antagonists stabs the protagonist and sound effects are used to put the emphasis on
the pain that is being inflicted on the antagonist. The screams from the family causes the scene to
become very dramatic. The music begins to fade when they antagonists notice the daughter
standing in the hallway, at this point the audience become uncomfortable because now a young girl
is involved and the audience begin to worry about what the two men are going to do to her, when
one of the men grabs the daughter and takes her into another room, the music comes back and the
father is left on the floor crying and screaming this implies to the audience that something terrible is
about to happen to the daughter. The music then fades out into sirens.