Research of the Thriller Genre

Analyses of relevant opening sequences

Key Texts: I have studied a number of openings to films of the thriller genre, these include; "Psycho" (Shower scene), "From Russia with Love", "28 days later" in the form of a textual analysis. The majority of thrillers that we have analysed consist of an enigma being formed soon after the start of the film. This enigma is rarely a good guy verses bad guy dilemma, the more the plot twists and creates suspense in this genre the better. This means an opening sequence has to propose lots of information about its mis-en-scene, and create an enigma or problem to be solved, commonly introduced by the protagonist or the antagonist. The directors also use cinematic techniques and sound conventions to introduce pace and tension and control it when it is needed.



This is the opening sequence to 'James Bond From Russia with love'

One characteristic that i will try to incorporate in my production is the suspense fullness of this opening sequence, after all the famous James Bond starting credits and theme tune we see what looks like James Bond sneaking around a garden, we soon find out that this is not the case and the audience have been deceived which is common in espionage thrillers. I will try to recreate this by keeping the theme unidentifiable in an attempt to create suspense and anticipation by introducing the mis-en-scene first and then the plot slowly. Another technique i will incorporate into my opening sequence is the purposeful lack of score until it is introduced quietly and slowly for the build up of the climax towards the plot being reveled.



This second opening sequence is the hybrid genre, social realist thriller 'From London to Brighton'

In this opening sequence i believe its thriller genre is clearly identifiable by the kinetic camera movements, grainy picture and realistic look. This film will influence my final product due to its original use of sound, the opening sequence starts with quick cutting of a graffiti filled toilet, the thriller element in this scene is that all the diagetic sound is unnaturally loud and shrill creating uneasiness. This is supported by the unappealing image we see of a beaten woman with a crying child. Another method used by the director is the immediate introduction of a situation, in this case a beaten woman with a child hiding from someone, this makes the audience automatically interested by making them think what is going on, or how did events lead up to that scene creating anticipation.

These two opening sequences are examples of thrillers that i have studied and that will influence my production, both of these opening sequences have a different approach to their opening sequences and have different effects. The 'James Bond' opening sequence has its slow building score and introductory narrative ending in a mini-climax when the audience find out that 'James Bond' is someone else wearing a mask, this results in firstly lots of suspense and tension and secondly anticipation to build up the plots puzzle in the audiences mind. On the other hand in 'From London to Brighton' there is no score, only high pitched diagetic sound and its grainy image and realistic kinetic camera movements combined with its abstract use of shot types make the audience feel uneasy. But similarly to the first opening sequence the film makes the audience want to know more about the story with anticipation.