Dark Knight opening analysis

The opening scene to ‘The Dark Knight” starts relaxed doing a slow zooming in shot in to a black glass building. This doesn’t last for long because one of the panels smashes and that is the starting of the action sequence which is going to happen during the whole scene. After the glass smashes it goes straight to zoom in shot to a man wearing a clown mask with a gun in his hand. By showing this it gets the audience guessing what they are doing. Also by zooming in to the man in a clown mask, it tells us that he is a main part of the action and he is wearing a mask to hide his identify. This could suggest that he is going to do a criminal act.

After moving away from the people in the building it shows the back of another man which gives the sense of confusion cause you cannot see their face. Whist holding the shot on the man it begins to zoom into the clown mask which is in his hand. Due to the zoom in it gives the audience a clue that the mask is important in their thing they are doing.

After seeing the people who are involved, the action then begins when the men on the building shoot a rope all the way over the city to a nearby building. As you see them sliding down it different camera shots are used such as an overview and one looking at them whilst they are on the rope. By showing this it tells the audience that the crime is invading a building like a robbery. This leaves the audience wanting to continue watching the whole film.  

Seven opening analysis

In the opening sequence of the film ‘Seven’, it is very easy to get a sense of unsettledness. This is brought about by the creativity of the sounds intended to cause this effect, such as when you are watching the credits you can hear faded screams which impact on the audience effectively. Also you can hear chain’s rustling which gives the image of someone captured and held against their will. There are other disorderly noises during the scene which are used to raise the tension and suspense.

These disturbing noises create the first mental image of what the film is going to be like. From the differences you can tell this is going to be a jumpy thriller which will always keep the viewer on the edge of their seat.

The opening credits of the film are very intense in an array of ways. Usually in most films, even thrillers, the credit text is plain and for the viewer it is dull. In ‘Seven’ it is different because the text is all disjointed whereby it appears in different places at different times. The style of the text is also unconventional in its appearance. During the credits different images show up and in certain parts shows key words which are relevant to the film. The word ‘God’ appears which indicates something in the film is relevant to this. This type of mise-en-scene is used effectively because it keeps the audience focused and asking questions before the film has begun.

No Country For Old Men opening analysis

The opening of the film 'No Country For Old Men' is well suited for a western thriller film as it allows the audience to see the scene where the film is going to take place. It shows a lifeless desert which gives the audience a feeling of expectancy because it makes them wonder what is going to happen in the film. Whilst producing screen shots of the desert in a variety of different times of the day, the narrator begins to speak in a calm, deep voice. He sets out the basis of the story and gives the audience some insight as to what is going to happen. After 1 minute and 40 seconds the narrator stops speaking and the audience hears footsteps of two people walking towards a police car. By showing the police car it brings a sense of fear because you know someone has broken the law but you are in suspense of wondering what they have done.

When the two characters are in the car they zoom in to a mysterious air pump which confuses everyone because we are trying to figure out what it is and what the person did with it. By zooming in on this object it makes you focus completely on the weapon and it looks very dominant because the framing which is used allows no other distractions from the weapon. After this you get to see the criminal for the first time. How the director has made use of the lighting is advantageous to the film because the criminal is in complete darkness. This leaves the watcher curious to what he looks like. Also it gives the feeling of unsureness because you can only see his outline and cannot get a good visualisation of what he is like. This theme is carried out throughout the opening scene adding to the dramatic effect of suspense.

 When they are in the police station the police officer is in the middle of the screen so you always keep your focus on him. However, in the background you can see the criminal moving around whilst remaining blurred giving the audience the sense that he is going to commit a heinous act. The costume of the killer is a dull brown colour which not only allows him to blend well in the darkness and maintain his anonymity but gives the impression of him being intimidating. Also when his face is blacked out, his body is also not in view.

The bathroom killing scene in the 1998 replica of the 1960 film Psycho produced great significance to the whole film. This very intense scene for the audience because it provides a brutal murder which links to other parts of the film, also it is the first time you see the murderer in action but still trying to understand why are they doing the murder and who it is. By wanting to know different aspects of the murderer it encourages the viewers to keep watching.

During the showering scene where the victim was inhumanely murdered, it all links to a stereotypical thriller film where a young isolated woman is murdered without anyone releasing is violently killed. But there is a difference on where the crime was committed because it was situated in her shower. This is considerably different to any other thriller out because the shower is a private area where you should be alone but the killer has ignored that so it was much unexpected.

This screen shot is the first image of the killer. Even though it is a close up shot of the killer, you can not distinguish the killer clearly the lighting is purposely not on the killers face so it creates a sense of mystery. The only lighting in the shot is on the knife. This instantly draws you to the knife which makes the viewer wary.

This screen shot has great importance in this scene. The close up shot of the knife makes it look even more intimidating than before. Also the use of lighting has added tension to the scene. By the light being fully on the knife it gives the sense of dominance and this is what will be used by the killer.

This shot allows the audience to see the murder in action easily and clearly. This birds eye view shot gives an emotional feeling towards the audience because you are seeing the murder happening but you are unable to do anything about it. The way that the shower pole is composed (placed) it unable you to see the murderers eyes which leaves a sense of mystery because you can’t recognise them.

 

The shot of the plug hole is very effective because it shows the water and her blood draining away which could refer also as her life. This shot is a close up which makes the plug hole the main focus in the shot.

This is the final shot of the victim. She is dead which officially tells the audience that the killer has accomplished their aim. By doing a close up shot it allows you to see the emotion on her face when she is dead

Psycho, two different directors, different actors, different versions! Which do you prefer?

Alfred Hitchchock's 1960 Bathroom Scene from Psycho!!

Gus Van Sant's 1998 Version of Psycho!!