The opening scene of The Bourne Identity establishes key elements of a thriller genre. A dead body floating in stormy seas creates mystery and tension. Unclear dialogue and shots that linger on the body leave the audience wondering what happened. Sound effects of the stormy weather and creaking boat enhance the ominous tone, while incidental music underscores the importance of the discovery at sea. Through its imagery, editing, sounds and ambiguous details, the opening immerses viewers in an unsettling atmosphere and raises questions that propel the story forward.

1. Analysing the opening to a Thriller
The Bourne Identity

2. Mise en Scene
Dead body floating on the water when at
the start of the opening, creates a scary
and chilling atmosphere and makes the
audience wonder what is going on. This is
one of the main aspects of a thriller,
making the audience wonder what is going
on and what will happen next.
The boat sailing on the stormy sea
at night shows a dark and
treturous scene and introduces
the thriller with a scary
atmosphere.

3. Camera Angles, Shots and Movement.
Close up of cigarettes and playing
cards, this connotes that the film
may be vilanous and gambling also
symbolises danger and scheming
which fits in with the genre of a
thriller, gambling and money usually
leads to something bad happening.
The camera keeps cutting back to
the dead body throughout the
opening, it also zooms in and out
giving the us a better look of what
it is although it still cant be seen
clearly. This makes the audience
wonder what has happened and
that it must have some
importance because it keeps
getting shown.

4. Sound
• The dialogue in the opening is in a different language, which makes the
audience wonder what is happening and where the sailors are travelling
to, this creates a confusing atmosphere.
• The sound effects of the lightening and the waves crashing against the
boat in the storm creates a treturous and dangerous atmosphere.
• Incidental music is played when the dead body floting on the water is
shown, this creates tension and a scary atmosphere and also emphasises
that the dead body has some importance to the film.

5. Editing
The lightening effect shining on the dead
body, creates a scary and mysterious
atmosphere and shows that the dead
body has importance in the film, the
scary image of the refelction of the body
on the water is emphasised by the
flashing lightening.
The sound effect of the ship
creaking as it sails creates an
eary and creepy atmosphere.