Reviews of introduction to thriller films
‘Inception’ (2010) by Christopher Nolan
This film uses a variety of techniques to include suspense and mystery and variation in narrative structure to the introduction, this absorbs the audience into the plot, and encourages the audience to watch.
The use of sound within the introduction is key to adding threat and suspense, it is used immediately for starting credits, and the sounds give a dark and ominous feel to the introduction.
The opening scene is of the main character ‘Cobb’ washed up on a beach, this narrative structure creates a sense of mystery for the audience as no reason has been given of how he has arrived there.
There is a mid-shot of a couple of children playing on the beach, which could be reflecting similarities to the audience as they are innocent and unaware of ‘Cobb’.
A formal looking military soldier then appears, and speaks to ‘Cobb’ in a foreign language. This is not subtitled, adding suspense and mystery to the introduction.
Cobb is then seen eating a meal with a businessman; they are placed at opposite ends of a long table. The only props of value to later in the film are a spinning top and a gun. The position of the characters on a long table, one of which displaying a gun may have been done to suggest the mistrust between the two characters.
The opening scene is of the main character ‘Cobb’ washed up on a beach, this narrative structure creates a sense of mystery for the audience as no reason has been given of how he has arrived there.
There is a mid-shot of a couple of children playing on the beach, which could be reflecting similarities to the audience as they are innocent and unaware of ‘Cobb’.
A formal looking military soldier then appears, and speaks to ‘Cobb’ in a foreign language. This is not subtitled, adding suspense and mystery to the introduction.
Cobb is then seen eating a meal with a businessman; they are placed at opposite ends of a long table. The only props of value to later in the film are a spinning top and a gun. The position of the characters on a long table, one of which displaying a gun may have been done to suggest the mistrust between the two characters.
Another key shot is an extreme close up of a watch and its hands, appearing to count down towards an event which adds suspense. The following scene is of an explosion in building within a busy street, this is to shock the audience, but adds mystery as the audience is left asking why it happened.
‘Silence of the Lambs’ (1991) by Jonathan Demme
The opening scene is set within a forest; the weather is cloudy, creating low on screen visibility and a eerie atmosphere. The appearance of the main character ‘Clarence Starling’ immediately makes the audience ask questions, as she is running through the forest, she is seen running in a tracking shot from a POV of behind her, which possibly suggesting she being chased which adds suspense.
The scene ends as she is told to report to her boss, and it is made clear to the audience that she is training for the FBI.
There is a key scene, in which she enters an elevator wearing a grey top, and all her colleagues are wearing red and are male, possibly suggesting that her profession is male dominant and that she is; a strong, able female. This could be done possibly to send a subtle feminist message that females can do any job men can do.
There is a use of a red light to suggest danger, during an exchange of dialogue about the serial killer ‘Hannibal
There is a use of a red light to suggest danger, during an exchange of dialogue about the serial killer ‘
There is a eerie soundtrack in occupancy to this, which leads into the following shot of Clarence walking down a narrow hallway to Lectors’ cell.
The position of his cell as the last at the end of the hallway, adds to the hallway scenes’ attempt to build suspense to the introduction ofHannibal
The position of his cell as the last at the end of the hallway, adds to the hallway scenes’ attempt to build suspense to the introduction of
‘The Kingdom’, Peter Berg (2007)
The introduction to ‘The Kingdom’ uses lots of sound in the introduction to build suspense and provide information on the historical facts that the film is based on.
There is fast pace music that is used in the introduction builds suspense to the film. The images and sound that is used gives a journalistic approach to the introduction as it provides a short timeline on the progressing relationship withAmerica
There is a strong emphasis within the choice of journalist quotes that focus on the economy and religion within the Arab emirates. The font used in the introduction is black and bold on a white/grey background. This helps symbolise the divide of opinions of the country about the relations withAmerica America
There is fast pace music that is used in the introduction builds suspense to the film. The images and sound that is used gives a journalistic approach to the introduction as it provides a short timeline on the progressing relationship with
There is a strong emphasis within the choice of journalist quotes that focus on the economy and religion within the Arab emirates. The font used in the introduction is black and bold on a white/grey background. This helps symbolise the divide of opinions of the country about the relations with
‘Those who control the flow of oil, hold the Western world hostage’.
These help build suspense and presumption to the storyline of the film by the audience. The choice of lexis with the word ‘hostage’ presents a negative image to the audience as it personifies the ‘West’ as helpless, which contrasts the normal media image of Western countries as powerful and strong.
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