5 Thriller Openings Emma Chamberlain

Batman Begins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWcxPgH22RY
Misery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgqu2W3Ore4&feature=player_embedded#
21 Grams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqKQp89DJoc
Donnie Darko http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_EtwhKmMMY
Final destination 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxo1am-1xQ0

Batman Begins:
Camera work-This classic thriller uses fast tracking to follow the characters as they run, birds eye views to create a sense of depth within the shot and close-ups to see the reaction and emotion on the characters face. These techniques have been used to create a sense of fast pace action within this film and create a sense of thrill.
Editing- The sequence begins with an animation of bats flying past the camera, this leaves the viewer confused and, as it's an animation, it gives the feel of un-knowing. This shot quickly merges with a tracking shot across a garden. The mix of these shots is effective in thrilling the audience. Fast cuts are used throughout this sequence, giving a sense of action. Slow motion action is used as the child falls to empathise on this action and foregrounding is used to highlight the importance of a rock.
Sound- Music with a loud drumbeat stars the sequence, the drum-beat climates until the sound of bats begins to overwhelm it. The screeching of the bats is frightening and confusing as it appears to over power any other noise. Sound is then used parallel to the action of the children running until there is a change in the shot and setting and a sudden silence, then a loud sharp breathe is heard. This sudden change from bat screeches and loud drums to complete silence shock the audience. I particularly liked this technique.
Mise En Scene- The beginning of the sequence is very dark and bats are used as they connote darkness, fright and danger. The colours red and black are used throughout to create a sense of mystery and unknowing in the dark spaces. Children actors are used because they appear vulnerable, the audience feels afraid for them especially when the child falls through the well and is helpless and alone. Foregrounding is used to put empathise on a rock, we can tell from this that the rock is important.

Misery:
Camera work- close-ups of objects are used to begin the sequence with extremely shallow depth of field to have the audience focus on the objects in the foreground although the background has movement. This is an unusual technique but i think it's effective in creating a good mood for confusion and sets the tone that something is not right.
Editing- Cuts are used to create short fast shots although to begin with, long still shots are used to empathise on the objects. This is followed by the camera following the car, the shot length varies but is normally quite long as to not cause confusion too early.
Sound- A typewriter in the digetic sound with an eery non-digetic music piano played on top of this. I like this effect as it allows the audience to feel frightened without the need for action of the characters.
Mise En Scene- Foregrounding is used to highlight several objects to begin. The main character uses a pencil to write 'the end'. This is significant because a pencil can be erased, it shows that the end is possibly not as expected and therefore we know some danger is due in the sequence. The character is quite old and alone throughout, making him vulnerable. The setting is also at the top of a mountain which seems quite inaccessible, creating a thrill because the character is alone.

21 Grams:
Camerawork- Establishing shots where used to begin each diferent setting, with a long shot at eye level to start. No movement was used in the first shot. following this, the camera cut to a scene with a father and two daughters, the camera focused on the faces of all three using close-ups. This enables the audience to see the emotions of the characters and feel some empathy towards them. Then the setting changed again and an over the shoulder shot was used to give a point of view.
Editing- The sequence kept to the 180 degree rule to keep continuity when using an over the shoulder shot of the prisoners talking. This keeps the realism of the sequence. Most of the cuts where to show a change in scenery although in the second different setting (with the father and daughter) lots of short cuts where used, it created a sense of not having time to see these characters enough which reflects on the later story. 
Sound- The beginning 30 seconds of this sequence was in complete silence. I really liked the effect this had, giving a sense of uncertainty and drawing the attention of the audience to watch the characters. The digetic music used next created an atmosphere which was friendly and welcoming, reflecting on the characters within this shot. Following this, only dialogue was used. I find this very powerful as it draws our attention to what each character says and really focuses on them and no background noise.
Mise En Scene- The bright beginning shot is powerful in that it creates a uplifting mood, however this is contrasting to how the characters are in this shot as they have little movement other than smoking a cigarette which reflects the stress within the character. The next shot shows a father and his daughters, they are all smiling which conveys happiness within these characters. From the happiness shown in this shot, the sequence then shows a much stiller contrasting scene with a women who appears to be admitting to a problem in a meeting. We then see a prisinor guard and a prisoner sat in a room alone with a large cross hanging on the wall behind them. This is effective because we wouldn't usually associate prisoners with religion.


Donnie Darko:
Camera Work- This sequence begins with a long shot which tracks down the road and finally pans around the character. This shot establishes the entire setting and the movement is very steady and slow paced, allowing the audience to fully take in the surroundings. Next the camera pans around the scenery from what seems to be a POV shot of the character.
Editing- There is only one cut for the first 2 minutes of these opening sequence. Full filing the audiences desire to not be confused by several cuts, this technique creates a sense of realism.
Sound- There is silence in the sequence untill 1.30, leaving the audience unknowing of anything because there is no dialogue to guide them. Non-digetic music is used as the character comes into shot. Slow tempo, classical piano is used, creating a thrill with it's eery high notes.
Mise En Scene- Although this sequence has little action and sound, it is very powerful because of it's ability to create atmosphere within the mise en scene. The setting for example is a deserted hill top with just one single road, which when we see the character laying in the middle of, we realise that something unusal happened. Seeing as it's morning and we can see the sun rising from the back grounded hilltops we can tell that this event happened during the night before. The character is a teen boy who, when turning to the camera, has a smile on his face. Powerful because of the shock of it, the music and setting create a negative sense but the character smiles and contradicts this. I think this sequence is really powerful in it's simplicity.

Final Destination 3:
Camera work- Uses lots of tracking shots. Camera always moving, Low angles of horses. Close ups of doll to show importance of her and her finger choosing the fortune card which is later understood in the film.
Editing- frequent cuts to different parts of the funfair. Different pictures shown each time to create disorientation within the audience. Alot of digital editing is used which we could incorporate into our sequence.
Sound- Climactic non-digetic music is used. Screams are heard to create thrill and shock factor combined with the low slow beats of the music.
Mise En Scene- the setting is a fun-fair which usual connotes fear. It's at night time and most the colours used are black and red which connote danger. The sequence shows a plastic doll and this can provoke a creepy atmosphere because it shows an in-humane character. The word 'Death' is shown where the pinball lands, creating a strong sense of fright.
Emma