The opening sequence introduces an ambiguous character through a series of close-up shots. It shows the character cutting himself, sewing papers together with sharp objects, and cutting words out of money, implying he enjoys bringing pain or is guilty of some crime. Dark lighting and music create a tense, suspenseful atmosphere. While the character's actions seem abnormal and secretive, the sequence aims to show the audience experiencing what is going on in his mind. It leaves viewers with an unsettling impression of a possible psychotic killer at the center of the film's plot.

1. Se7en Nine Frame analysis
BY Wale

2. FRAME 1
The first thing that is shown in this opening sequence is a book with the pages flickering by itself
which is ambiguous because the audience do not know what is making the book to flicker or who
the owner of the book is. The book may be used to symbolise the protagonist as been intelligent or
a person who goes by the books. The colour of the writing in this frame is white which may be used
to represent a holy person or may be used convey innocent lives , no clues are yet given to what it
may represent since this is the first frame. The writing is written in some sort of disorientated
way, it is out of place, which may be used to represent the protagonist has been a person that is out
of place in the society. No clues are given as this is the first frame these are just the thoughts that
would come up in the head of the audience.

3. Frame 2
Frame 2 gives the audience a little more things to think about, and answers some of the
questions from the first frame. Firstly in this frame we see a high angle point of view shot which
shows two drawings of hands on a book, however the hands are a contrast to each other which
may be used to symbolise the battle between good and evil. Chiaroscuro lighting is used in this
frame, with the white and black shadows , the shadows may be used to symbolise that the
character is doing something that they are not supposed to do, it also suggest something is being
done in secret. The white and black patches of lighting are conflicting with each other, the white
patches of lighting may be used to symbolise the character wanting to break free from the
darkness or may be used to represent the character has been good but does not show it. The
black patches of lighting overcomes the white patches, which may be used to symbolise the
darkness that is taking over the character 'state of mind. Still the audience have not come up
with an idea to what type of person the character is .

4. Frame 3
Frame 3 starts to introduce certain features of the character, a close up of the
characters fingers are shown, however the fingers of the character does not appear to
be normal, this frame shows the character cutting the skin of his finger with a blade.
The dirty fingers of the character are used to represent the characters uncleanness
and may be used to represent the character has been different, this also conforms the
general conventions of villains in thriller films has always having something that is
wrong with them e.g. captain hook in Peter Pan that has a hook in place for his hands.
Clues are not given in this frame which suggest that the character might be evil.

5. Frame 4
Frame 4 shows the a close up of the characters fingers again, this time with
bandages, this shows the result of the character cutting himself with a razor
blade from the last frame. The character is still able to do things normal ly has
you can see him getting some sort of files, this suggest that the character
cutting himself with a razor blade is something that is done regularly, as no sign
of pain is shown. The font se7en comes up in this frame which may suggest to
the audience that this is the name of the film as it appears by itself in this
frame. The writing appears were the lighting is dark which is a contrast to the
colour of the font.

6. Frame 5
Frame 5 shows a close up of the character writing in the book, which shows that although
he is seen as bad in the previous frames and seen as someone that is not normal, the
character now shows the audience that he is also intelligent. Also due to the how the
opening g has presented this character, the audience may also think that the character is
writing down evil master plans due to the way he is conformed in other frames. The font
used in this frame as no general structure, it does not stay in one place, this is shown
through out the all course of the trailer, which may be used to represent the character as
been strange.

7. Frame 6
Frame 6 uses a lot of dark lighting, and shows the image of a young person
with the eyes being scratched out. The dark lighting used in this frame may be
used to represent the character doing something that he is not supposed to be
doing , something that is done in secret. The picture shown in this frame may
be a victim has this not the only picture that appears in this opening, these
are the kinds of thoughts that would come up in the audience’s head due to
the way the character is presented in other frames. This shot also shows the
casting of the film which is written in a white colour and may be used to
represent the innocent lives.

8. Frame 7
Frame 7 shows the a close up of the character sticking something on a book, the
opening of this trailer mostly includes close up shots of the characters features and
shots which include the character doing something with his fingers. Although the
audience do not know what the character is doing, these close up shots may be used to
symbolise what is going is going on in the characters head. The close up shots may
represent the character seeing the audience has his friends because the audience get see
everything he does in close detail, and things that are considered secretive through the
lighting used are revealed to the audience, as each frame progresses the audience start
to know more about the character.

9. Frame 8
Frame 8 gives the audience more clues as to what the character is doing, it shows a close up of the character
sewing pieces of papers together with a thread and needle which is abnormal , the character seems to have an
obsession with metal objects that are sharp, which may imply that he likes doing things that bring pain or it
may also be used to represent the objects that character uses to torture his victims.

10. Frame 9
Frame nine, the final frame, the audience see a close up of a dollar bill, but this close up has been elusively
done because it shows the character cutting the word “God” out of the dollar which gives the audience
more clues as to what the film may be about , or this may be done to represent the characters religious
side or may imply that the character is guilty of something, which is why it resulted in cutting the word
“God” out of the dollar bill. As this is the final frame, this frame could be represent what the film will be
about.

11. Analysis of opening sequence
Camera Shots
Most of the camera shots in this opening sequence uses variable close ups, to illustrate a
viewpoint of what this psychotic person is doing. It is shown in fine detail; to give the audience a
point of view on what this observable serial killer is doing using a range of high angle shots to
conclude this. Moreover the opening scene also uses close ups of objects such as:
books, needles, and pictures of people close to death.
Sounds
The sounds that you hear throughout the opening scene are non diagetic; the instrumental of the
music is so technical it’s sturdy to know what kind of instruments are been played. The
instrumental is rapidly done which adds suspense and tension to the audience, the scream in this
music brings a sense of death and torture. However the non diagetic sounds given of in this
opening scene suits the convention, it gives the audience a graphical idea of what the film is going
to be about.
Editing
The editing used in this opening scene are rapid cuts, they go from one shot to another
rapidly, and this builds the pace of the film adding suspense to the audience. Moreover the cuts
of the pictures shown in the opening scene suggest that the thoughts of this ambiguous person
are disorientated and grotesque. The Text of the credit used in this opening sequence suggest
that it is the hand writing of psycho, all these effects gives the audience the generic convention of
this movie.
Mise-en-Scene
There are variable amount of non artificial lighting because the setting was dark and gloomy with
obscured images of people near death. This gives the sense of seclusion and the thought that this
person is up to no good. There is a contrast of colours between black and white, because the
setting is dark and gloomy then a lamp appears which brings a sudden contrast. This could imply
that this psychotic person as two sides, although we see his bad side in this opening sequence it
gives it away that he may have an emotional soft side.