This document provides an in-depth analysis of the opening title sequence of the film Se7en. It examines the cinematography, editing, music, and visual symbols used to immediately set a disturbing and mysterious tone. Through close-ups, dark lighting, unsettling sounds and music, and brief flashes of violent imagery, the sequence aims to intrigue audiences and give a sense of the film's dark themes and atmosphere.

1. ‘Se7en‘(1995) is a mystery thriller about two detectives that hunt for
a serial killerwho is using the seven deadlysins as his inspiration.The
movie is directed by David Fincher and stars Morgan Freeman, Brad
Pitt and Kevin Spacey.
The opening titles where directed by Kyle Cooper who is an award
winning, modern film maker who specialises in the production of
opening titles. Cooper has produced opening title sequences for
famous films including: Iron Man (2008), The Mummy (1999), Spider
Man (2002) as well as Se7en (1995).
The sequence starts with a close up shot of an open book. The focus
is on the pages as they are turned and there is a shadow reflecting off of the book. This could
suggest that the person turning the pages has a darker side to them. This scene hides the
character’s true identity to the audience- this may allow the audience to get clues from the
significantpropsthat mayassist the audiencein understanding the film’snarrativelater.If they
do make these
connectionsthey may feel
pleased and intelligent
which may make them
relate to the main
character (who are
detectives), that might
make them more likely to
talk about the film if they
understand it. The lowlitscene may makethe audiencewonderwhat is happeningas the close
up and darkness makes the scene very mysterious. We can hear non-diegetic music that is
very loud and the pace increases, this dramatic music is heard throughout. This makes the
audience know straight away that the film is an intense and serious film, which may help the
audience recognise the genre. The sound of the music is very crackly and is uncomfortable to
listen to. There is also a drum beat throughout the sequence this may represent life (heart
beat) and as the tempo increases it may reflect the audience’s own heart beat (as people’s
heart rate usually increases with fear and anxiety). Additionally the low pitched explosion
sound at the end may be symbolic of death as the dream beat is silent. This may make the
audience want to watch on because they might want to know what happens next and the
silence may create suspense.

2. There is then a close up shot of a
man holding a blade, attempting
to cut off the skin on his finger.
This couldsuggest thathe is trying
to remove his finger prints which
may make the audience think that
he has committed a crime and
wants to get rid of the evidence.
This may immediately make the audience aware of the genre that it is and makes them realise
what a harsh and disturbing atmosphere that the film’s setting is. Therefore the target
audience(youngadultsand adults) maywanttocontinue watchingthe filmtoseemoreviolent
and horrific imagery.
Additionally, the soundtrack becomes a lot more unpleasant during the shot of the blade,
which therefore makes the weapon appear a lot more intimidating. There are asynchronous
scream like screeches which creates a threatening and disorientating atmosphere. This may
represent to the audience how most of the film’s mood will be like.
Throughout there is fast editing, these short takes may create a shocking and disturbing effect
on the audience. Additionally the jump cuts in the scene create enigma and there is not
enough time for the audience to make a strong, formed view on what is happening. However,
there are some long takes along with bizarre flashing lighting as the scene transitions
throughout the sequence too. This use of editing represents the film as abstract and
unpredictable,whichmay interest the audienceand cause them to continue watchingthe film,
possibly so that they can understand what is happening.
The text that appears as the opening credits is a sans serif handwritten looking font. The text
may have an unpleasant effect on
the viewer because the credits are
designed to look amateur rather
than like the professional bold
credits that appear in conventional
opening sequences. Additionally
the text flickers like an old-
fashioned film projector maybe
hinting at the kind of person the
antagonist is.
The audience may also notice the difference between the texts that introduces the stars (the
most valuable actors) and the other actors.
People like Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman have
black backgrounds and all the focus is on their
names whereas people like Richard Roundtree’s
(see the picture above) names are in the same
sepia colour of the shot and are not as bold
because of the mise-en-scene.

3. There is an extreme close up of someone writing, the hand has double exposure but becomes
focused at the end of the shot.
This shot is filled with the colour red and
the boy’s face is scribbled out. The colour
red is typical of a crime thriller as there is
usually a lotof violenceand blood.Thered
may connote blood and danger and the
boy’s scribbled out face could symbolise
the boy is dead. Also, because there is a picture of someone with such violent connotations
surrounding it, the viewermaythink that this wasnot an accidental deathandthereissomeone
who is a murderer.
The soundtrack builds up until the end where the only lyrics that are heard are sung, ‘you’ve
got mixed up with God’ as the character cuts out the
word, ‘God’ out of a newspaper page. This may
represent the character’s psychotic personality of
being obsessed with God and this links to the sub-
genre of a Psychological Thriller.