The document analyzes the opening sequences of three psychological thriller films. It examines aspects like sound, editing, color schemes, text formatting and more to determine genre, target audience, and hints about characters and plots. Key details are given without revealing major spoilers to maintain audience intrigue. Overall, the openings effectively set expectations for psychological thrillers while leaving many questions unanswered.

2. Psychological Thriller
g
s from the openin
t can you tell thi
To w hat exten
sequence?
The sound use, the colour scheme, the
pace of the action, the editing (mis-en-
scene) allow the audience to fully grasp
what genre the film is without any
confusion as they can relate certain
techniques with other thrillers they have
seen.

3. I think the target audience is 18 and upwards
as it comes across as a film that could possibly
have a complex storyline that wouldn’t be of
much interest to 15 year olds. I also think that
the other reason that it would be an 18
specification is due the possible shocking
visual images.
To what exten
t can you esta
the opening s blish this from
equence?
This is quite easy to pick up due to the images
shown in the opening sequence that hint at a
journey that is rather complex.

4. e make you
Does the opening sequenc
If so, how ?
curio us to learn more?
The main thing that I learnt about Yes, the opening sequence makes me
the characters from the opening curious to learn more as I only saw one
sequence was that there is one character throughout the sequence which
central protagonist who I believe the makes me wonder why that character is so
audience will understand more important and what the character does, it
about throughout the process of the makes me want to start the journey with the
film. The audience are faced with possible protagonist as the opening
many images but I do not feel that I sequence suggests that the character is
completely understand the plot but I unpredictable but also a very smart
think this is exactly what the director individual. Another thing that makes me
wanted as it would make people curious to learn more is the fact that
want to come and watch it more. If throughout the entire opening sequence,
the director gave away the storyline the face of the character is never shown
within 3 minutes in the opening, it which then again makes me question
would seem pointless to watch the whether it is a character that is works very
film. well but is never caught out which reminds
me of a character such as Jack the ripper.

5. ‘New line cinema presents’ ‘a Arnold Kopelson production’ – Is the first
thing to come onto the screen. Why? – To make sure that the audience are
aware of who has produced it, this can also determine a films success,
depending on whether the producer is well known or not. Arnold Kopelson is a
well known producer of thriller films which would’ve been an automatic
reason for people who are interested in horrors/thrillers to watch this.
? Why? Can you
At what stage of the sequence
fects used?
comment on the size; font and any ef
The text is quite small but I genuinely think that is just to keep with the
font size throughout the sequence. - the font is like the following:
‘Arnold Kopelson’ which looks as though it is handwritten. This
automatically makes the film seem as though it is following someone
on a personal level. The audience are once again reminded that it is a
‘Arnold Kopelson and Phyllis Carlyle’ film – font size for ‘produced’ is
flickers between very big (roughly 72 font size) and medium sized
(roughly 22 font size) to show the importance of these two in the
process of the film making.
1st example of 2

6. ‘Se7en’ appears on the
screen.
? Can you
At what stag e of the sequence? Why
cts used?
comment on th e size; font and any effe
It appears after the producer, director and main stars. The
names before the appearance flicker and on the 7th flicker,
‘Se7en’ appears, large at first but then the word flickers and
becomes a much smaller font size.
2nd example of 2

7. The non-diegetic sound is used to leave
the viewer asking questions and wanting
to know what/whose going to be Is it effective?
robotic/evil.
Yes I feel the sound is
The non-diegetic sound is very robotic effective as it keeps
and gives a sense of something growing/ the audience
someone becoming possessed. When I questioning and also
hear the music all I can think is of an makes us aware that
snarling evil creature. there is no comic
element and that it is
Characters: quite an in depth song
• The song doesn’t give us much of
an insight into the character/s within
the film.

8. Paper - e.g. book (which seems like a
possible motif prop), squared paper, The needle and thread – These
pictures and newspaper. – These show props make the audience question
that there is a lot of information that the antics of the person as the
needs to be noted and to be understood. needle and thread aren't being used
It also hints at ‘God’ with the newspaper the same way that we would use a
cut out. This closely links into the pen needle and thread in a normal
use and suggests a possible link into everyday situation.
religion and how things such as sexuality
are seen but on a deeper and more Razor blade – Personally I find this prop use
disturbing manner. the most interesting, I feel that it suggests
some sort of injury/pain but within the mind.
The use of the razor blade in the opening
A pen – This prop is used to cross sequence fits perfectly as the character is
out words such as ‘transsexual’ removing their finger prints with a object that
which gives us a possible insight into we don’t associate that action with, which
what the story could be about but automatically intrigues the minds of the
also crossing out/getting rid of audience. This prop implies that the
evidence. It could also represent the character is very knowledgeable in the field
continuity of the characters actions. of crime & knows every process they must
go through to stay out of trouble.

9. The use of colours in the opening
sequence are typical of a horror film –
RED, WHITE AND BLACK. This
gives the audience a huge hint that
this film is going to be a horror.
In this example, the
producer has decided to
use all those colours. –
The hands: Black
The line down the
middle: Red
And the Paper: White.

10. Throughout this section, an ‘extreme close up’ is used.
– This is a perfect way of making the audience feel quite
involved but also rather uncomfortable as the shot is very
near to the subject which virtually means that the
audience are forced to watch. This ensures that there is
no confusion within the audience on the subject of the
characters actions. – Feeling so up close and not being
able to miss any detail of the action makes it seem as
though this is the character that we will follow throughout
the film and we will see the story through his eyes mostly.

11. The editing throughout this section is quite fast, the
producer uses ‘cuts’ to allow the audience to view the
different areas of the possible protagonists intentions.
The words on the screen flicker into the next image
which is enhanced by the use of sound.
The movement of the
action may slow down at
certain areas but the
cuts will keep the pace
of the opening
sequence at a relatively
fast pace.

12. I think overall the opening sequence is very
effective, it captures the audiences attention from
the minute the discordant sound starts and leaves
the viewer intrigued.
The producer made sure that its very obvious that
this is a horror film to leave no confusion. For
horror lovers this will come across as the perfect
film as it hints at a complex but interesting storyline
but without losing its fear factor.
The opening sequence keeps the
audience on the edge of their seats
because the director/producer only gives
the viewer a bit of information but it is
enough to intrigue us but it doesn’t give
away too much to the point of ruining the
audiences’ cinema experience if they
watch the film.

14. Th riller.
sychological
The film is a p
To what extent can yo
u tell this from
the opening sequence
?
This isn't completely obvious in
the opening but there is a slight
hint through the sound use and
editing.

15. Both sexes aged 15 and
over.
To what extent can you establish this from
the opening sequence?
It is quite obvious that the film is not an 18 as the
sound and use of editing doesn’t suggest a high level
of graphic images that are not suitable for children of
a younger age.

16. The viewer doesn’t learn a great deal about
the characters or the plot from the opening
sequence as the director has chosen not to
have any of the characters revealed. I think
that knowing nothing about the characters or
plot allows the piece to more successful as we
do not know what to expect and therefore our
reactions will be heightened.

17. The text fades
When ‘The Sixth Sense’
onto the screen,
appears at almost one minute
enlarges then
into the sequence, its placed
spreads slightly
after the producers, the film
into another fade.
productions companies and
Bruce Willis. The text looks as
though something is walking
past it as there is a shadow
that travels across the letters
almost the like a ghost passing
by.

18. The non- diegetic sound is
extremely eerie throughout the
opening sequence - the use of
violins is typical in a horror film.
The non-diegetic sound changes when
the text ‘ The Sixth Sense’ comes up, to
a distorted loud sound which
automatically makes the viewer feel on
edge but we also want to know more.
The music starts to progress when the text ‘Bruce Willis’ comes up which
suggests that he could be a focal character in this film. It is also presented
in that way to grab the attention of the viewer as Bruce Willis is a well
known actor and therefore many would watch the film simply because he
is in it as films starring Bruce Willis are guaranteed to be a success.

19. The colour use if very dull, which doesn’t suggest
happiness! – The only colour use is: Black
(background) and roughly this shade of Blue (for
the text).
When considering ‘energy’ which links closely
into ‘the sixth sense’ (energy of spirits etc), Black
means: preparation for the unknown – which the
audience will subconsciously be doing because
in the opening sequence not much is given away. The lack of colour and overall
Black also means: emptiness which hints at the design/setting seems to be
possibility of a character that feels empty/drained enough as the sound use and
for some reason. (http://crystal- the in-animation and out-
cure.com/black.html) animation of the text manages
to hold the audiences attention
as the audience are made to
think more instead of just
watching images move around
the screen like many film
openings.

20. In the opening sequence a character, possible setting is
not shown which means that the camera wasn’t used
which could hint that camera angles and movements are
going to be an important factor when trying to achieve the
correct audience response.

21. The editing throughout this
section is quite slow, the
producer uses fades to
present the people involved
in the making of the film,
every fade is partnered with
the use of sound.
The editing hints at the possibility of someone fading away: a death, wandering
mind, being sucked up by the darkness. This suggest a film that could be
psychologically challenging and disturbing for the audience.

22. I think overall the opening sequence is very effective, it
captures the audiences attention in a very different way to
other horror films as it seems to go for a calmer approach
instead of going for the instant shock factor.
It is obvious through the use of sound and colours that the
film is a psychological thriller as dull, dark colours with
eerie music is the general layout/form of a thriller.
The opening sequence keeps the audience interested because the director/producer
doesn’t give away any information about the plot or characters, I feel this is effective
but I would have to give this some deep thought when working on my opening
sequence as I feel that seeing the hands or the shadow of a character in a setting
would help to enhance the opening but still leave the audience intrigued as they
haven't actually seen the characters face. - The audience need something little to
trigger their interest more.