What do directors seek to establish in the openings of thrillers?

In the openings of thriller films the director seeks to establish different key aspects of the film itself, such as: location and setting; plot; tone and mood and character. Different directors will choose to focus on one overall in the opening.

Establishing Character: Se7en 

For establishing a character in the opening of a thriller I have chosen David Finchers film Se7en. I have chosen this opening sequence because it allows the audience very quickly to establish the protagonist, it gives them focus on key material items and in some cases metaphorical objects to allow the viewers to get a grasp on who they are and in this case the importance of the character in this film.

For example in this shot we instantly understand the characters job, in the police force. Detective William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman) is already shown to be organised in his up keeping, his belongings are perfectly placed and set out. The precise placing of these particular items show us that he can be described as a careful man. It can be said that all the items placed down correlate apart from the object furthest to the left, this suggests it is of sentimental value to the character, something to hold onto as a memory. The background details and storyline to this object of emotion was in fact removed from the full movie, although this is an enigma, we are still able to establish an emotional attachment to it, it clearly contrasts to the more serious and work life feel to the other objects placed on the right.

The clear correlation between the other 4 objects is that they all link to the characters intelligence and profession. The gold plated police badge enforces his role and clear seriousness in his occupation as a detective, the pen knife, pen and glasses case all reinforce his strength and intelligence in this role. It provides the audience on the truly in depth life this character leads, just how precise, detailed and significant each item is to him and the life he has lived. The knife can however connote a darker side,  a sense of danger is emphasised, a warning to the audience that this character will put himself into situations where he may need to protect or fight, furthermore it could connote what he has had to fight in the past, a clear emphasis on his need for protection in a weapon.  

This scene provides us with the idea that Somerset is not only a careful man and professional in a workplace and situation, but his home life can be suggested as lonely, the inequalities of positioning in this shot emphasise this, especially by the double bed with only one person on one side and the other empty, he is a single person in a wide shot that should be filled with the second, however they are missing. The inequalities can then again be questioned by the lamps and lighting by how they are both switched on as if he is reliving the moments of which he shared with the missing person, but also by the fact the lamps are different heights, suggesting a deeper meaning that he has lost the power and he is at his lowest at home, alone.




Establishing Tone; The Disappearance of 
Alice Creed 

 The two images show the panning shot of items the two protagonist villains need for there kidnapping. This shot I believe is the most important out of all the thriller openings we have watched, this is because it is in complete contrast to what is shown in this opening before, it creates a more violent and dangerous tone to the opening sequence and film. It expresses to the audience the severity of what the characters are about to become involved in. The seriousness of what crime they are about to commit and how deadly it could become. It provides the audience with a more heart beating moment, it provides a tone of which completely captivates them.

Another example as to how this film opening establishes tone, is this simple wide shot scene, in my opinion it allows the audience to relax, the simplicity, aesthetically pleasing and symmetrical shot puts the viewers mind as ease, there is nothing complicated. The relieving tone is also established by the way the characters are placed and positioned, they are relaxing, slouched and at peace after their preparation. The calm before the storm.

Establishing Location: Essex Boys

Terry Winsor, the director of the British thriller establishes location beautifully. An example is shot. The car of which has both protagonists in, driving into the bleakness, heading into the darker side of life, it emphasises urban life but empty. The scene then leads the audience into another where the Essex sign is clearly shown. This example not only sets location but the metaphor that the location connotes, the grey cloudy British skies allows the viewers to set the scene, relate and experience each step with the characters. The on-screen vanishing point also helps the audience get a full grasp of the location and setting Winsor chose.

This scene I have chosen as my second example of establishing location in this opening is chosen simply because it is so obvious and simple to the viewers of the characters location, again Winsor uses a repeated technique of on-screen vanishing points, this enables the audience to take in the vast landscape that the director has chosen so perfect for the storyline he is following. This shot is filmed in the Essex marshes, again providing a bleak sky and colour palette as seen before. I believe Winsor has chosen these vast areas and locations because it enables the audience to guess what is going to happen, to leave them with the vast amount of ideas and scenarios that the characters could be involved in. For instance in this shot, the viewer will inevitably think this location is dangerous, there is nothing but mud and sea, you cannot possibly survive out there, and that is what Winsor wanted, to not reveal anything but allow the astonishing location and landscape to tell the story and outcome for each character.