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.