The document analyzes how a thriller film opening sequence establishes conventions such as suspense, vulnerability, mystery, isolation, danger, and voyeurism through the protagonist's actions and experiences. The sequence introduces the main character in an enigmatic scene that leaves her identity ambiguous. Images from the sequence are presented with explanations of how they develop specific thriller conventions like suspense through unexpected pacing, vulnerability through an obsessive compulsion, mystery around her reasons for being alone in the woods, isolation in her secluded location, danger suggested by her shovel use in the dark, and voyeurism through the camera positioning that seems to stalk her.

1. Our thriller opening develops forms of conventions such as suspense, Achilles heel, enigma, isolation,
peril and voyeurism. The thriller convention identity is challenged during the opening of the film
because you are unaware of the characters identity until she is waking up from what appears to be a
dream. Even though you as the audience feel that you are finally aware of her identity and so
unconsciously place her in a type of social group, it changes by the end of the opening sequence as
her identity as a school girl becomes clear.
This still image creates the thriller convention of suspense; a
state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainly about what
may happen. The image is taken from the opening sequence
when Ali is dreaming of her experience at The Thicket. It creates
suspense because before the quick cuts, the flow and pace of
the opening sequence was quite slow. When the quick cuts
begin, the audience does not expect it as the pace increases and
does not expect the character to then face the camera, so wants
to know what is about to happen.
This image is from the bathroom scene. It is a great example of
Ali’s Achilles heel as later on she develops an obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD). Her OCD makes her constantly feel
as though the mud is still on her. It is this very action that causes
suspicion among the people closest to her. Her Achilles heel,
meaning a seemingly small but actually crucial weakness, makes
the people in her life notice that something is not right.
This is an image of the very first thing you see when watching
our thriller opening sequence. It is a still image of Ali walking
through the Thicket woods. This is an enigma that makes the
audience question: why she is in the woods alone while it is
dark? Enigma meaning a person or thing that is mysterious,
puzzling or difficult to understand, like a puzzle or paradox. It is
important to have an enigma in the opening of a thriller film to
keep the audience guessing, and wanting to find out more.
Isolation is the process or fact of isolating or being isolated. In
our thriller opening the main character is isolated from her
world as she goes to a secluded location on her own. The fact
that she is isolated makes the audience question why: why is
she alone and does she intentionally want to be? The
combination of her being isolated and her being in the dark
suggests she is purposely isolating herself to prevent others
from seeing her. This then brings out the question: why does

2. she not want to be seen? Throughout the sequence the character is always isolated however it is self‐
inflicted.
This still image is a prime example of the thriller
convention peril, meaning the immediate
dangers or difficulties that arise from a particular
situation or activity. Because Ali is dragging the
shovel across the ground, it immediately
suggests a hazard/risk. This is created through
the fact that a shovel is not normally used in the
dark. This also brings forward the question: why
is she digging in the dark and what is she
digging?
The whole of woods scene in the opening sequence
illustrates the thriller convention of voyeurism. This
is because the audience is taking pleasure in
watching something they shouldn’t be. This could be
a possible crime that the antagonist does not want
you to witness. The ways in which our opening
sequence has created voyeurism is through the
positioning on the camera. The camera is place
behind Ali in order to make the audience feel as
though they are almost stalking her. The use of hand
held also adds to the convention of voyeurism as the
audience feels like they are watching her and
anticipating on what she is about to do in the woods.