The opening sequence of The Ring establishes conventions of the thriller genre through elements of suspense, tension, mystery and terror. Transitional shots and the protagonist's fearful facial expressions create suspense without revealing the threat. Mysterious unexplained events hint at an unknown force tormenting the main character, generating tension and questions. Atmospheres of menace and dark, dull surroundings emphasize the mystery and heighten the thrill. The sequence ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the audience wanting more to understand the hints and resolve the mystery.

1. The Ring Thriller

2. Conventions of Thrillers: There are often: -Red herrings -Cliffhangers -Plot twits Feelings of: -Adrenaline rush -Uncertainty -Anxiety -Terror Elements of: -Suspense -Tension -Excitement Sub genres of: -Mystery -Crime Atmosphere of: -Menace -Violence -Crime -Murder

3. Elements of: This screen shot from the opening sequence shows her reaction to something that we are unaware of, this therefore causes suspense and tension . The focus is on her expression and the dull background provides emphasis on the subject which suggests the importance of her facial expression. Transition shots such as this one shown also help to create suspense tension , and excitement for what is to come. The again dull surroundings correspond with the dark theme of the movie.

4. Sub Genres of: The opening sequence of the ring demonstrates sub genres of mystery , as it suggests an unknown being of force with unexplained events such as the opening of the fridge, and water on the floor. The confusion and fear on her face supports the themes of mystery , as she is clearly unaware as to what is going on, therefore the audience are also unaware which therefore emphasises tension and encourages the audience to watch on in a state of tension. The suspense is also part of the ‘thrill’ as the unknown is unpredictable. The picture on the right shows that the surroundings are dull throughout and dark and obstructive shots are used throughout, in keeping with the consistently dark and mysterious themes of the movie.

5. Atmosphere of: This screen shot suggests atmospheres of menace , which are demonstrated throughout the opening sequence. The subject is being tormented by an unknown force, as the television is continuing to turn on after she has turned it off. This screen shot also shows that the dark surroundings are again continuing throughout which emphasises the the atmosphere of menace and exaggerates the mystery of the unknown force and therefore exaggerates ‘the thrill’. Along with the dull surroundings, her clothes are dull and drab in keeping with the surroundings and the theme.

6. There are often: The opening sequence is left on a cliffhanger . The above screen shot shows the continuation of the dull surroundings which emphasises the lit lamp and the television. The television is the focus of the shot which therefore suggests its relevance, yet as it is on a still image it raises questions as to what the screen is actually showing which leaves queries in the minds of the audience. The cliffhanger encourages the audience to watch on as the story unfolds and the hints and suggestions brought about from the opening sequence play out.

7. Feelings of: The above screen shot from the opening sequence demonstrates feelings of terror from the girl within the movie and this terror is therefore passed onto the viewer as it is fear of the unknown, yet whatever the source of the terror is built up with this image as her face looks ill and badly affected by whatever it is that is causing the trauma. This is supported by the continued dull surroundings and slight green tinge to the image which suggest her bad health and possible themes of death or murder . This screen shot from the opening sequence just before the previous screen shot, I feel supports the feelings of terror and fear of the unknown as throughout the sequence there is reference to the television screen yet it is unclear as to what the source is. Feelings of anxiety are brought with the lack of knowledge toward the safety of the subject, again supported by the previous image as her safety appears to be in turmoil.