Film Opening Analysis

The first few moments of a film are the most important ones, they are magical, like the first page of a book. The opening of a film catches our attention and gives us a promise of what's about to happen, whether if it's through a slow approach or through some moments of complete silence filled with horror.

So, in this post, I'll look at different film openings and analyze each one of them.

Scream (1996)

• Intro: The beginning of the film starts with the title of the film production company then moves to the title of the film. The title is firstly written in white, but after few seconds you can see a red light pulsing around the text, and suddenly, the text turns red. Then Casey Becker, receives a phone call, who turns out to be threatening and from a killer. The killer plays with Casey's mind, putting her through horrible events and making her play a game, that leads to her death.

• Editing: The editing is an extremely important part of the film, that builds the tension in the opening scene. In this film, there are multiple ways of editing styles used. Action Match was used, a cut that joins two different views of the action that is happening, making it seem like it's uninterrupted. In this case, there are multiple cuts during Casey's running, that creates urgency and adds moments of suspense. Jump cuts were also used to show views of different locations, which just adds to the suspense.

• Sound: The sound builds the tension and the feeling of horror in this film. From the beginning, when the title of the film appears on the scream, you can already hear the sound of the phone and thunderstorm, and then, when the title turns red, a loud scream and a knife slicing sound. Throughout the movie, you can hear the sound of crickets on the background, giving you a feeling that she's completely alone in her house, no other person being around her house. The sound then slowly turns into a sound that gives you chills, that makes you feel scared and keeps you tensed.

• Camera: Throughout the movie the camera is mostly following Casey around the house, focusing mostly on her face, so the viewers can see how her expression turns from a calm, yet confused expression to fear as she conversation goes on.

• Mise-en-scene: The lighting is really important for setting the mood of the film. The interior of the house is mostly bright, while outside it's straight up darkness, which may keep the viewers in suspense, since they don't know what could appear in the darkness at any time. Props are also important in this film. The phone itself is a prop, which slowly becomes frightening since it's used by the killer as a tool to terror Casey.

• This film was made for an audience that feels interested in horror movies and aged 16 and above for many reasons. It has multiple moments of graphic violence and brutal killings and mature themes.

Seven (1995)

• Intro: The film starts with Detective Lt. William Somerset getting ready to solve a crime because a man was shot. At the crime scene, Detective Somerset meets with Detective Mills, a new detective in town and they have a conversation about why Detective Mills wanted to get reassigned in that town. The framework changes, and now it's with Detective Somerset, in his bedroom, trying to fall asleep.

• Editing: There are a few editing methods that I noticed in this film opening, like jump cuts and match cuts, used to create tension. In this case, the jump cuts are used in the few seconds of the movie, when the camera keeps moving from the character, to the objects he takes, back to him, then to the jacket on his bed. The match cuts are used in the conversation between Detective Somerset and Detective Mills.

• Sound: Before the movie even starting, you can start hearing the sound of police alarms, and the cars honking. Then, in the few first moments of the movie no one speaks. It's just Somerset, in his house, where you can't hear anything but the actions he's doing to get ready for work. Only after the place is changed, the dialogue actually starts.

• Camera: The film starts with a fade-in, focusing on Detective Somerset. Then it continues with a close-up, insert shot and wide shot. During the conversation between Mills and Somerset, the shot switches to a long shot. In the last scene, the framing changes, first you see him from a side, then there's a zoom shot from the front, which happens when the camera zooms in on the character.

• Mise-en-scene: The costumes are simple, yet classic for detectives. The lighting, which is really important in setting the mood, gives you a mysterious, yet lifeless look.

• This film was made for an audience aged 16 and above for many reason. For example, language and sexual violence.

Conspiracy Theory (1997)

• Intro: The opening moments of "Conspiracy Theory" presents Jerry Fletcher, a taxi driver in New York, played by Mel Gibson, discussing with with each one of his passengers a different conspiracy theory, more exactly, his theories, and how the government spies on people to mind control. The way he speaks so fast and doesn't stop about these theories, helps the viewer of the film realize that Jerry is lost in his mind, surrounded by paranoia.

• Editing: While watching this film opening, there are a few main editing methods used in the first few minutes. Let's start with the most important one, pacing, the speed at which the plot moves. In this case, we can see how the cuts are fast, everything almost seems jumpy and rushed, even the way he talks, making the opening of the movie chaotic. Quick cuts are also used in the film opening. During the first few minutes of the movie, you can only see a brief look of Jerry, before the framework moves to the city, then his taxi, the passengers, and so on, pretty quickly. Another important one is crosscutting, meaning that the framework keeps moving from Jerry to his passengers while he's talking, showing their reactions.

• Sound: In my opinion, the sounds in the film opening scene, are extremely important, adding to the chaos. From the beginning you can hear this background music, that slowly mixes with the sound of the traffic, the cars and the rest of the city can be heard on the background, making Jerry's "speech" so much more interesting, drawing you in because it adds this illusion that something might happen at any time.

• Camera: There are a few really important shots in this film opening, some help you see the facial expressions of the characters, some create the whole chaotic and rushed atmosphere. One of the most important ones is the handheld shot, meaning that the camera moves quick and shakes, matching Jerry's way of talking and the subject he talks about. Close up shots are also really used, containing only Jerry's or the passengers face, allowing the viewers to see their emotions. And the last one, which is also important, the tracking shot, used to follow Jerry's taxis from different views.

• Mise-en-scene: The lightning is extremely important: bright signs and lights, yet inside the cab is dark, giving the scene this unsettling vibe. The setting is chosen very well, New York, a noisy street, just like his thoughts.

• This film exposes a cruel world, who's manipulating every weak person. This film was made for the people who can't help but question the world around them, who know that the world is not as it seems, who dare to wonder and ask, for the people who might be seen as "crazy". But.. what if these "crazy" people are the only ones who see the truth? Is everything around us as it seems?