The document analyzes the opening sequences of two films: a thriller and a crime film. For the thriller, the opening establishes a dark and ominous atmosphere through the use of silhouettes that build tension as anything could happen. It shows a woman swimming at dawn as intense music builds, with the point of view of an unseen threat. For the crime film, the opening shows the wealthy city location before a window smashes, introducing the criminal intentions. It depicts suspicious characters and oblivious people, building tension over the impending robbery. Both use music, lighting, points of view and character silhouettes to create mystery and build tension without revealing threats immediately.

1. Thriller Opening Sequence
Analysis

3. Character is a silhouette to
match with the darkness of the
scene to create an eerie
atmosphere. Audience can’t
see much of what’s going on so
anything could happen
First opening shot is on
the beach by the sea this
instantly alerts the
audience as they know
the shark is in the sea
Sun is only just
coming up so it’s
dark but basic
figures can still be
made out

4. Woman is swimming in the
sea. Intense orchestra music
builds up. This builds tension
for the audience as they
something bad is about to
happen
Similar to the last
shot the lighting is
dark this means
that anything could
be out there but
we cant see it

5. POV from the shark,
however at the time the
audience do not know what
is looking up at the women.
This creates tension
Again all characters in the
opening sequence are
silhouettes to create a
feeling of mystery

6. While the woman is being
attacked we still don’t see
what has got her so this
creates tension for the
audience as there is a
mysterious killer in the sea
While this happens
the music intensifies
from the build up
and tension is
released

7. After the attack the
water is calm and
there is no sign of the
killer or the woman The tension is released
and the action in the
scene is over at the end

9. First we see an
establishing shot of
the whole city. This
was done to
introduce where
the film is going to
take place
We see the area is a
wealthy area based on
the big expensive
looking buildings. This
could be in preparation
for the robbery

10. From the silent city
a window smashes
which queues
intense music
We now know that
whoever has done this
doesn’t have peaceful
intentions. This builds
tension as we want to
know who did it and what
happens next

11. In this shot we see a man
holding another one of the
clown masks that we saw
previously on the other
robbers
We also can’t see
this mans face
which could
suggest he is
different to the
rest as we aren’t
allowed to see
him but he’s not
wearing mask
This suspicious character is standing in the
middle of a busy street which shows other
people are blind to the dangers around
them. This agrees with the stereotype that
the common people are oblivious when
they have things to do

12. After the robbers start
shooting and taking
hostages the bank owner
comes out to fight them
with a shotgun
From this shot we
can tell he is
balanced with
power in the scene
as the camera is at
eye line level.

13. In this shot we one of
the robbers grabbing
all of the money in
the bank. In this the
money is in focus but
the robber is not, this
shows that the
robbers only motive
is the money.
In the bank vault the
lighting is very low this
goes with the light
design of the entire film