The opening sequence introduces multiple characters at a lecture given by a bearded man in a lab coat at a university. Shots reveal students taking notes and the lecturer addressing them in front of a blackboard. He summons a woman in a gown who is wheeled in, clearly unwell. The camera cuts between shots of the students, lecturer, and room. The woman is forced to stand and has a fit, suggesting she is unwell physically or mentally. This disturbing event hints that the film will explore the treatment of unwell patients under the lecturer's care at the asylum.

1. Film Beginning Analysis
Film:StonehearstAsylum
Director: Brad Anderson
Screenplay:Joe Gangemi
Genre:Psychologicalthriller,Thriller
StonehearstAsylumbeginswithanexcellentopening
sequence,introducingustomultiplecharactersandgivingus
an insightintowhatthisfilmwill goonto explore.The
sequence iscleverthroughitsentiretyandhighlythought
provoking.Itbeginswithamediumshotthatmovestothe
right,allowingustosee a selectionof youngmeninsuits,
appearingtobe taking notes.Fromthis shotand the soundof
a solitaryvoice inthe background,we can assume theyare
universitystudentsorgraduateswithinalecture.This
backgroundvoice becomesthe focuswhenthe cameracutsto
a close up of a beardedmanina lab coat. We can see a blackboardbehindhim, filledwithnotesand
sketches.This,aswell ashisuniform,suggeststousthathe isin a teachingprofession orpossiblya
doctor of some sort whois carryingout a talk. We thencut to a longshot whichallowsusto confirm
the setting.The shotallowsusto see thismanaddressingaselectionof note takingstudentsinwhat
we originallyassumed- alecture. The manbecomesthe focusagainwhenanextreme close upshot
showshimwashinghishandsinfrontof the studentsandthensummoningin‘apatient’.Hisuse of
the word patientconfirmstoushisprofessionasa doctor. We thencut to anotherlongshot,this
time froma higherangle,whichallowsustosee a womanina gown beingwheeledin. Thisshot
cleverlyallowsustosee the entiretyof the situation. We notice more aspectsof the location;a
skeletonisstoodinthe corner,a furthersuggestionof the man’sprofession. We alsonotice other
characters,also dressedinnursinganddoctoruniforms. The ladyrecentlywheeledinbecomesthe
mainfocuswhenthe camera cuts to an extreme close upof herpanicriddenface.Herheadisbeing
heldup,suggestingshe isincapable foranunknownreason. We shortlysee anotherman
straighteningherlegsout,suggesting she isalsoincapableof doingthis.Whilstthisisgoingon,the
camera continuestoswitchbetweenshotsof the students,the manaddressingthemandthe room
inits entirety.Throughthis,the mancontinuestotalk.There isnoaccompanyingsoundtrackor
instrumental tothis,justthe oddwordfroma studentwhenpromptedandthe heavybreathingof
the womanin the wheelchair. Thismakesusfocusonwhat the man issaying,whichisclearly
essential speech. However,the faintsoundof apianoinstrumental beginswhenthe ladyisforcedto
standup in presentationtothe students.We thengoon to see a disturbingsequence whichinvolves
herand the man leadingthe lecture;he purposelypromptsthe ladytofit.Since he knowshow todo
this,we can assume he ishighlyknowledgeableof hispatients.Also, consideringthe factthatthe
ladycan easilyfit,we canpresume thatshe isunwell insome way:physically,mentallyorperhaps
both. It isthiseventthat suggeststous thatthe filmwill goonto explore unwell patients.We could
guessthat they are underthe care of the man runningthe lecture andthat thisisthe focusof the
film.