The opening scenes of four famous thriller films are analyzed and compared. For The Dark Knight, there are no opening credits and the scene establishes tension through its shots of the Joker's heist and subtle clues about his identity. Psycho uses unsettling music and graphics to create anxiety before revealing its isolated setting. Silence of the Lambs plays with the audience's expectations through shots of Clarice that suggest danger before revealing her training. Se7en has a disorienting score and brief disturbing scenes that don't provide context but foreshadow key elements of the film. All four openings effectively set the tone for the thrillers that follow.

1. THRILLER FILM OPENINGS

2. THE DARK KNIGHT- CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

3. NOTES
CAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS
• Opens with the classics Warner bros logo, except the lighting and colour are black and blue,
which are also colours Batman/Bruce Wayne are associated with
• An Establishing shot of City of Gotham opens the scene. While zooming into a building, match
on action is used to show the window being broken open, then a mid shot of a clown holding a
gun is seen standing near said window. We then see the back of someone, holding a clown’s
mask, getting into a van. A bird’s eye view shot is used to show two of the clowns zip lining
over traffic, allowing us to see how high up they are. Cross cutting is used to show the
different clowns/thugs and jobs they are doing. Tracking shots are used as the clowns run and
enter the bank. Match on action frequently used.
SOUND
• Throughout the whole scene there is music playing, some sort of beat. It creates tension.
Ambient sound is heard, cars on the road etc. Synchronous sound is also used, e.g. sound of
window being smashed, of guns being cocked and fired

4. MISE EN SCENE & SYMBOLISM
• Symbolism is represented in this scene in subtle ways. The emphasis
on the clown masks indicates that it has something to do with the
Joker. They are all seen carrying guns and weapons, which Iindicates a
sense of danger, which is usually not associated with clowns. The first
‘Clown’ we see is standing on the side of the road, and we only see the
back of him. However, we can see that the man’s hair is green, which
indicates that he is the Joker. This would probably not have been
picked up on the first time you watch the movie, but the director,
Christopher Nolan, is already giving the audience subtle clues.
OVERALL
• There are no Opening credits, which really causes the audience to
focus on the scene, and recognise that it is an important one, and not
just one added in to have credits overlayed on. The scene itself is
suspenseful, and as the Joker is revealed at the end, it gives us a taste
of how smart his character is, and is in an indicator of what is to come.

5. PSYCHO- ALFRED HITCHCOCK

6. NOTES
• Opens with the Universal studios introduction
• Instantly there is fast music playing, specifically of violin strings, this causes tension and
creates an unsettling feeling.
• Alfred Hitchcock’s name is first, immediately shows that this is a Hitchcock film, and creates
excitement. The animation sequence used (designed by Saul Bass) is very erratic and
unpredictable, which ties in with the theme of the film. Important actors and people involved
with the film are then shown on screen. Transitions between credits are used with grey bars
shooting across the scene, almost reminiscent of prison cell bars, which reflect the violence
that occurs later in the film. The credits are white and bold against a pitch-black background,
which makes the audience focus on them. Roles such as editors and supervisors names still
appear, but are in a smaller font and there is less impact on them.
• There is then a cross dissolve and the music fades out as we are shown a establishing shot of
the city. The words “Phoenix, Arizona” and “Friday, December the eleventh” are shown on
screen, which brings up the question of if this date is an important one to remember. A common
theme that Hitchcock likes to explore is that of voyeurism, and this is evident as the camera
zooms in through a window, making it appear as if we are spying on the characters.

7. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS-JONATHAN DEMME

8. CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES
• Opening shot is of a tree, indicating that the scene takes place in the woods, which
displays a feeling of isolation, as no one seems to be around. Jodie Foster’s name is the
first to appear, the text is big and bold, black with a white outline, which makes it stand
out despite the background having white and black hues.
• As more names appear on the screen, the camera slowly tilts downwards, and as it stops
the title of the movie appears on the screen, the music creating a creepy vibe. We then
first see Jodie Foster climbing up a rope, though we are unsure as to why she is doing
this? At first it seems like she is running from someone, or something.
• . A tracking shot is used so that we can follow Clarice as she runs. Shots change from
Mid shots, to close ups of her feet, to close ups of her face. Meanwhile credits are still
being displayed on the screen, but the audience is not as drawn to them as they were in
the beginning, as now there is something happening. We are then shown the climbing
net, and it is established that Clarice is not running from something, but doing her
training. The first lines of dialogue are “Starling, Starling!” Which allows the audience to
learn the character’s name, and see that she is not as isolated as previously thought.

9. SOUND AND OTHER NOTES
• First thing we hear is the score that is composed for the movie
• Selective sound of Clarice’s footfalls as she runs through the woods is the only other
sound we can hear apart from the score
• The opening of this movie is effective as it has the audience on the edge of their
seat, all the signs suggest that something is going to happen, that something may
pop out and frighten everyone, the twist in this is that nothing is really happening at
all, but it plays with the audiences feelings and emotions, as it continues to do
throughout the whole movie.

10. SE7EN- DAVID FINCHER
• The opening credits of this movie are different to the
other movies discussed. The opening credits are not bold
or in your face, they are written in a white font on a black
background, and made to look like messy handwriting.
The size of the credits are rather small and displayed
briefly, even for the big names such as Morgan Freeman,
Brad Pitt, and the title of the movie itself.
• The score is unsettling, there appears to be some sort of
beat happening with sounds such as doors opening,
weird electronic sounds etc. which causes disorientation
and confusion.
• The credits are shown after a brief scene of something
occurring. Things that are occurring show someone
cutting off finger tips, cutting up bits of film, developing
pictures, writing in a journal. The audience does not know
what going on, and since the transitions are happening
quickly, it creates a feeling of uncertainty.
• However looking back on it, the director shows all of
these things happening as they play key parts in the
movie to come. The whole scene could be described as
unsettling and disturbing, which is also what could be
said for the whole movie. This is another example on how
the opening of a thriller film is important because, more
times than not, it sets up the themes and messages for
the whole film.