The document analyzes the opening scenes of the 2005 thriller film Flightplan. It describes how the opening establishes an eerie atmosphere through the use of an empty train, dark lighting, ambient music and isolation of the main character. It discusses how specific shots like the identification of a body and ravens flying off alone in the snow further unsettle the audience. The analysis concludes the opening is effective at drawing the audience in with mystery and generating an unsettling feeling through its conventions of thriller films.

1. Thriller Conventions
Group Analysis: Flight Plan

2. The Director
Robert Schwentke is a German film director of these films:
• Tattoo (2002) - Writer/Director
• Eierdiebe (2003) - Writer/Director
• Flightplan (2005) - Director
• The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) - Director
• Red (2010) - Director
• R.I.P.D. (2013) - Director
Flightplan
Flightplan is a 2005 thriller film directed by Robert Schwentke and starring Jodie
Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Erika Christensen, Kate Beahan, Greta Scacchi, and Sean
Bean. It was first released in North America on September 23, 2005.
Flightplan grossed $89,602,378 at the box office and over $223,000,000 worldwide. It
also grossed $79,270,000 on DVD rentals.

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ5Qowjj3GQ
Opening of Flightplan

4. Opening Analysis
- The suddenness of the train zooming across the
screen is jumpy in contrast to the soft strings played
just previously.
- The scene begins with a slow zoom on her back as
she sits in the empty station. There is only artificial light
which suggests she is underground and it is night time,
as the camera slowly zooms to her back there is an
edgy atmosphere emitted in addition to this there is no
one on the train as the door open.
- The music changes from the sound of the train to eerie
ambient music.

5. Opening Analysis
- As the couple board onto the empty train there is a
high angle shot facing down at the now completely
empty station which emits an even larger sense of
edginess, making the viewers feel nervous.
- The next shot is of the train driving down the dark
tunnel the feeling is ghostly.
- The next scene is when she has to identify a body and
the colours of the room are blue, white and black giving
off a cold feeling, especially as we see the close up of
her black umbrella dripping with rain (this making the
feeling colder).

6. Opening Analysis
- The scene of the couple walking alone at night down a snow covered road again gives
off a sense of coldness making the audience uneasy.
- There is not a lot of lighting (again blue colours giving cold feeling) and some
fog/smoke in the air adding to the effect.
- There is only the street lamps on, none of the houses have their lights on inside
indicating that the two are truly alone, just like in the previous scenes at the train
station.
- The scene where the couple go outside and the door shuts but the camera remains
inside gives the sense that where they are is dangerous and that is why we remain
inside, the closing of the door, even though it is a simple motion, gives a spooky feel.
- Again there are barely any lights on in the rooms.
- As he brushes the snow off the seat black birds fly off the tree above making the
audience jump and also the fact that these birds are Ravens which are the traditional
birds used to give off the eerie/ghostly feel to a scene.
- Once we see that the body in the casket is in fact the man she has been walking with
from the station, realisation hits that she has in fact been walking alone the whole time
and the scene cuts back to where it left off with the couple and she is now alone with
snow still on the bench and as the camera pans upwards we see only her footprints in
the snow, this gives off a chilling and spine tingling sensation which is what the aim of a
thriller is.

7. How effective is the
opening?
• Theme of mirroring the opening credits create a visual aspect of the
audience viewing the film
• The protagonist, played by Jodie Foster, seen in a vulnerable situation.
This helps the audience feel pity for the character
• Emptiness of train provides mystery and sense of wonder as the
sudden flashbacks help generate further interest into the plot
• The use of sudden movement sounds, disturb the soft flow of credits
also provides an unsettling feeling for the audience to understand it is a
thriller
• Less dialog emphasizes the mystery, and causes the audience to focus
more on the actions of the characters
• Panic and illusion of empty train station creates emotions of unease in
audience

8. What conventions of the
thriller are present?
The main character is established
Psychological state of protagonist played by
Jodie Foster
Wonder and mystery
Questions the audiences mind
The possibility of the events occurring in daily life
Fear of becoming insane