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Real Media Research
Teen Thrillers
By Ellie

Warm Bodies
Opening Sequence Conventions:
The film opens with the Summit logo and titles and is
then followed by the Mandeville logo. This simply
shows the production companies that made the film
and is shown in the opening credits.

The film’s title is shown during some of the action, despite the fact that
there is not much going on. It fades in with a magical/fairy dust
animation and fades out like it has been squashed as it resembles
drops of blood.
Genre Conventions:
The font of the title is quite thin and fancy looking, which does not seem
to relate to the genre, considering what the voiceover has told the
audience so far. However, it is a red/orange colour which could imply
that there will be violence and blood/gore later on in the film.

Opening Sequence/Genre Conventions:
The first close up that is shown after the opening titles is of
the main character and the audience can tell that he
seems quite miserable due to his facial expression. This
makes the audience want to continue watching the film
because it may make them want to understand why he is
the way he is, which is a convention for this genre as they
do not know what could happen next.

Genre Conventions:
The camera then cuts to a mid-long shot of an older man
who has a similar facial expression and posture to the main
character. By this point, the voiceover has explained his
situation that they are all dead, which helps the audience to
understand the situation. The dark, gloomy colours are
conventional to thrillers because it builds tension
throughout the scene and emphasises the idea of death.

Genre Conventions:
The camera cuts to a short scene which shows an obvious jump back in
time. This is shown by the change in the colour, the faded black edges
around the picture, and the sound of a film rolling in the background.
This is a convention of thrillers as the editing techniques used in this
short scene includes fades and jump cuts, which builds tension so the
audience can see the past and the present.

Opening/Genre Conventions:
A superimposition is used whilst being explained by the voiceover. The
image in the background of two people in protective suits suggest that
there was some kind of disease/illness that caused the main character
to be what he is. The superimposition also increases the suspense as
more and more images and words appear over the main character,
which is a convention of thrillers.

Genre Conventions:
The point-of-view shot from the main character walking past
establishes the horror and danger that these creatures, which are
clearly the antagonists, possess. This begins to reveal the plot of the
film as the audience can assume that they are the ‘bad guys’. Also, the
lighting is much darker in this shot which emphasises the danger; this
is a key convention of thrillers.

Instead of building tension in this scene, the shot/reverse
shot between the two children and the main character
somehow reveals a sense of hope that the main character
feels. The non-diegetic sound of the soft background music
also emphasises this feeling, which is against the
conventions of thrillers.

The opening sequence ends with an establishing shot of an
airport with the main character walking towards the airplane
in the foreground of the shot. This is a conventional shot for
a thriller because it makes the audience want to find out what
the protagonist is doing and why. Also, it is clear that
whatever he is about to do leads into the main plot of the
film.

Shutter Island
The film opens with the Paramount logo and the
Phoenix Pictures production company. This is
simply the list of the companies that produced this
film.

The title of the film fades in after the opening titles and before any of
the action begins. The font type is in bold and is very large, which
makes it seem quite uniform and important looking. The use of the
gradient colours from grey to white makes it stand out against the
black background, which seems to emphasise the sense of danger.

Genre Conventions:
The first shot of the film is of a boat coming out of the fog.
This first setting uses very simple and plain colours, which
seem to emphasise the darkness and gloominess of the
scene. This is conventional to thrillers because it keeps the
audience on the edge of their seats as they do not know
what is about to happen.

The first shot of a person is a close up of the main character. This is a
convention of opening sequences because the main character/the
protagonist is usually introduced first. Also, this is conventional to
thrillers because of the use of darkness, emphasised by the mirror the
main character is looking into, which creates tension in the scene.

Genre Conventions:
The close up of the main character looking out of the window shows that
he is on the boat in the first shot. The vast sea outside the window
emphasises the protagonist’s fear as he has a very worried look on his
face. This may build up the audience’s fear as the sea may make them
feel trapped or isolated, which is a convention of thrillers.

Genre Conventions:
A shallow focus shot is used when we are shown where the main
character actually is. The camera focuses on several handcuffs hanging
from the ceiling, which could suggest that the film involved crime or
violence. It also comes across as quite eerie as the lighting is, once
again, dim and gloomy, which is conventional to thrillers as it creates
tension.

This two person shot shows that another character has been introduced
and also the setting that they are in. The vast sea is shown again which
makes the audience feel like there is no escape from the danger that
could occur at any time. The clouds in the sky are almost as dark as the
sea, which emphasises the threat of isolation and the uncertainty of the
main character.

The shot/reverse shot between the two men and the vast sea in the
background continues to build the tension. It is also noticeable that both
men are wearing very similar clothing, including hats and coats. This
shows the audience the era that the film is set in which may link to the
plot later on. This is conventional to thrillers because the clothes they are
wearing may reveal the type of people they are supposed to be in the the
era the film is set in.

An establishing shot of an abandoned looking island signifies the end of
the opening sequence. This is because it reveals that the plot of the film
may involve this certain setting. The image of the island is made to look
very eerie and dangerous, mostly by the dark colours used to
emphasise the threat of it, which is another convention of both opening
sequences and thrillers.

World War Z
Opening/Genre
Conventions:
The film opens
with the titles
which list the
production
company credits.
However, there is
no logos which
goes against the
opening sequence
conventions.

The first shot is of a beach, which is clearly not conventional to thrillers,
however, it may be conventional to opening sequences as it is an
establishing shot. The colours make it look very calm and peaceful,
unlike the conventions of thrillers. However, it could be hinting at a time
before the problem the film is about to show.

Another establishing shot is used in the opening sequence, but this
time it is of a city. Again, it looks peaceful but it may be hinting that this
is where the action will take place later on in the film. The establishing
shots may build tension as it seems to be bringing to audience closer
to what is about to happen.

Genre Conventions:
This shot suggests that the birds are fleeing which hints at the potential
danger that the opening is beginning to reveal at this point. Also, the
frame is distorted near the right which makes it look like the birds are
flying in different directions. This also creates tension and suspense
because it makes the audience feel psychologically unstable which may
encourage fear.

Genre Conventions:
This shot of an arrival/departure board, usually seen at train stations,
is also displayed in the same distorted shot. This increases the
already psychological instability in the audience, which again creates
tension. This is conventional to thrillers because they are designed to
make the audience feel uneasy and sometimes scared to know what
is going to happen in the rest of the film.

The opening titles are continued throughout the opening sequence
which is a typical opening convention. This shot is also slightly distorted
to create the same psychological instability as the previous shots. It
also creates a sense of chaos, which hints at the plot of the film and
increases the audience’s curiosity as to what is causing the confusion.

Genre Conventions:
It is not until this point that it is made clear to the audience what the
chaos is all about. It also creates fear and tension because the film
seems to be set in the near future which may scare the audience.
However, this is a main convention of thrillers as they tend to aim to
build the suspense by sometimes relating it to real life.

Genre Conventions:
A superimposition is used near the end of the opening sequence which
continues to build the tension even further, especially with the non-diegetic
voice over. The superimposition makes it look like a news
story which creates a more realistic image. The words used indicate
the violence that seems to be increasing throughout the opening
sequence. This is conventional to thrillers because, again, it creates
fear in the audience.

The titles of the film is shown after the action has finished. This signifies
that the story of how the chaos came about is about to begin and,
because of what was shown in the opening sequence, the audience will
be on the edge of their seats as they will want to know what happens. The
title seemed to zoom out until the words could be seen. The font used is
in bold, block capitals with a red ‘Z’ behind the rest of the title. The colours
used stand out against that black background and imply that there is
violence in the film.

Olympus Has Fallen
Opening
Sequence
Conventions:
The film opens
with the
Millennium
logo and the
titles which list
the production
company
credits.

The title of the film fades in before the action starts. The words are
white, which stands out against the black background, but the audience
can see the American flag waving behind it. The red on the flag
emphasises a sense of danger and that things are going to get tense.
The font is in bold, block capitals which make it stand out and appear
more threatening, which is conventional to opening sequences and
thrillers.

The film begins with an over-head tracking shot of a forest full of trees
covered in snow, which gives the audience the feeling that they are flying
in a helicopter/airplane etc. It also builds tension because it makes the
audience wonder where they are going. This is conventional to thrillers
because it keeps the audience guessing as to what is going to happen.

Genre Conventions:
An establishing shot of a large cabin with lots of lights and cars
surrounding it is shown. The big cars and the flags in the foreground
suggest to the audience that there is someone important inside. Also, the
colours used around the cabin are very dark and gloomy, the only thing
lighting up the frame is the cabin. This use of colours are conventional to
thrillers because it builds tension and gives the audience the idea that it
cannot be good.

Genre Conventions:
A birds eye view shot of two men fighting in a boxing ring is shown after
the establishing shot. The fact that they are fighting suggests to the
audience that this film involves violence, involving men especially. The
outside of the room is, once again, darkened to create tension and
suspense in the scene, which is conventional to thrillers as they are
designed to make the audience feel slightly frightened.

Genre Conventions:
A low angle is used whilst the cars drive past as it gives the audience the
idea that they are being watched from the concealed forest. Also, this
angle shows that the cars are important in this scene. The forest in the
background is pitch black which gives hints to the audience that
something bad is about to happen, which is a main convention of
thrillers.

Genre Conventions:
After a very frightening and jumpy crash, a worms eye view shot of the
president’s limo hanging off a bridge is shown. This creates fear in the
audience because the main character, the president, faces a life
threatening situation. This is one of the main conventions of thrillers as
the audience have no idea who will or will not die in the scene.

Genre Conventions:
A handheld shot is used during the shot/reverse shot between the
woman and the outside of the car. This creates a very shaky frame
which builds the tension in the scene as the characters are panicking
and shouting as they are struggling to save the woman. The blood on
the woman’s head suggests to the audience that death is close and that
there is nothing the other characters can do to save her. Also, the colour
of red symbolises the danger and the fear of the film.

Genre Conventions:
A mid-long shot is used to portray the president’s pain and fear. The
audience can no longer see what he is looking at but by the expression
on his face they can tell he is in shock. This creates tension and is
conventional of thrillers because it keeps the audience of the edge of
their seats as they realise what has just happened.

Opening/Genre
Conventions:
The last shot of action
seen in the opening
sequence is a birds
eye view shot of the
scene. This is used to
show that the action
has ended and that the
scene is over. The next
frame shows that time
has gone by because it
simply says ‘18 months
later’ which signifies
the end of the opening
sequence. This is
conventional to
opening sequences
and thrillers because it
builds the tension as
the audience want to
know what happens

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