Analysing Horror Thriller Film Openings

Analysing Horror Thriller Film Openings-

A horror thriller film is the type of thriller that blends with horror, focusing on suspense, tension and adrenaline while having an emphasis on fear, terror and gore. Some examples include; the Saw franchise, The Shining, The Silence of the Lambs, Jaws and The Exorcist.

Saw-

This is Adams point of view shot

Saw is a 2004 Horror thriller directed by James Wan. In the opening sequence, Adam and Lawrence are trapped in a dirty bathroom with nothing but a corpse lying between them. This film can be classified as a horror thriller because the camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene suggests it. When looking at the camerawork, there is a few shots and movements that I saw that help to show this film is a thriller; firstly there is a close-up of the protagonist ( of the opening sequence) Adam, he is underwater and his eyes open and he begins to panic. This shows that Saw is a thriller because he is clearly afraid which adds tension and makes the audience worried about what is going to happen to him. As well as this, there is a point of view shot from Adams point of view as Lawrence turned the lights on, the image is blurry, showing us exactly what he sees again adding tension as we wait to find out where he is. When Adam sees the corpse of the floor, he tries to walk towards it as the camera moves backwards which could symbolise the danger that these characters are in. Finally there is a mid-shot of Lawrence, he is tied up to the wall and his clothes are destroyed, indicating he'd been there a lot longer than Adam, the reason this shot is used to is to establish the characters as we have already met and to make us feel sympathetic for these characters in order to develop the idea that we want to see them succeed in whatever they do.

This is the mid-shot of Lawrence

Saw film poster released in 2004

When looking at editing there is one key use of it that stands out through-out the whole clip and that is when we first see the corpse to draw attention to it, there is use of a spiral. This is done to allow the audiences to really take in what is happening in this situation. There is also really quick cuts between the males in the situation to show the danger they are in and too add a sense of suspension to the scene.

The mise-en-scene of the opening really relates to the idea that it is a thriller film because at first the lighting is dark, creating the sense of mystery and suspense throughout. The outfits that Adam  and Lawrence are wearing are seemingly normal, but are covered in unknown stains and look as though they haven't been changed in a while, this builds tension as it suggests these men are being held hostage and this makes us feel sympathy as we want these men to stay safe and succeed, we worry about them and their situation. There aren't many props in this scene, only the gun and tape recorder that the dead man has in his hands. This is common in a thriller film as the gun is a weapon, whether is it used for protection or a weapon is unknown, but it doesn't matter it is stereotypical of a thriller film.

There is little sound used in the extract but what is used is very effective as the soundtrack is very quiet but tension building as it gets louder as the progresses' to add to the tension that is already there. The dialogue suggests the men are scared or worried about their situation, the use of swear words implies this.

Overall I think the opening of 'Saw' is a strong opening for a thriller film because it starts of already into the action of the film and this attracts the audience's attention- this is something that every director, writer and producer aims to do in their films.

The Shining-

This is the establishing shot

This is the birds-eye-view shot

The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror thriller film directed by Stanley Kubrick. In the opening sequence the camera is following a car drive through a grand landscape. The camera shots, angles and movement are peculiar because they never get closer than a long shot to what we are following, this could suggests it is to be afraid of. It starts with an establishing shot of the landscape we are following the car through, this is used to as the shot suggests establish the setting for the film, however it could also be done to add tension to the scene and that can also establish the theme for the rest of the film. As well as this, various Ariel shots are used to show again the landscape we are in, but also add tension, we are following something and the use of the Ariel shot allows us to follow it at a distance. There is a birds-eye-view shot of the car which tells us exactly what we are following through the mountains; this creates tension because we want to know what is in the car, who is in the car and where it is going.

This is the ariel shot 

The Shining film poster released 1980

There are a few editing techniques used throughout the clip, firstly there are used to transition between shots, this is done to make the film look professional but you could consider the fact that they are done to show the car, that we are following, has been driving for a long time, this again causes you to wonder where the car is driving too. In addition to the fades, there is also a use of slow cuts, which is the opposite to the opening of 'Saw' but I think they have the same purpose, excite the audience. The slow ones get the audience excited to know what is going to happen next, subsequently making the tension surrounding the film to build. 

When looking at the sound used in the scene, there isn't much apart from the music, which is loud and the instruments build up throughout the sequence. As well as this, it eventually adds some special effect sounds such as an evil laugh. One of the biggest indicators that this soundtrack builds the tension of the film opening as we follow the car is the caesura (also known as a false ending or a dramatic pause.) A caesura is typically a short break that happens abruptly and can be placed at any point throughout the measure. It is used to add tension to the scene, and grab the audience's attention.
The mise-en-scene is also limited in the scene, the only things we get introduced to are; the landscape where the film may be set and right at the end the large house that could be the main setting, but you as the audience are unaware from just the opening clip anything about the characters, props and costume. The lighting is high key, as it is outside; this could suggest the film starts off in a normal way and not straight into the drama like 'Saw'. 
Overall, I'm not sure if this is as strong as an opening in comparison to 'Saw' but I think in its own right it has some good qualities as it is definitely a tension builder and it has some really weird but wonderful use of camerawork.

The Silence of the Lambs-

This is the close-up shot.

The Silence of the Lambs is an American horror-thriller film released in 1991. It was directed by Jonathan Demme based of the book of the same name written by Thomas Harris. It starts off as trainee FBI agent Clarice M Starling running through the forest doing some sort of training/ an obstacle course. Then she is told by another agent that 'Crawford wants to see you in his office' and so she rushes to go and meet him. This suggests to the audience that Crawford is someone of importance, maybe a boss or section leader. 

The Silence of the Lambs poster
released in 1991

The camera movement plays a large role in this opening as it moves quiet quickly in order to keep up with Clarice as she runs the course; this suggests to us she is dedicated to her work and that she won't let anything stand in her way. They use shots from the side as well as close ups of her feet to also emphasise this idea. There is a close-shot of the other FBI agent who is wearing an FBI baseball hat, this is used in the same way that an establishing shot would be done, to establish the setting. By this we know that the opening sequence is set at an FBI academy or field office, something we hadn't known prior to this. As well as this, the mid-shot also immediately makes the audience anxious because if the woman we saw is a the 'good guy' there must be a 'bad guy'
The editing in this scene is fast paced in order to keep up with her fast paced lifestyle as well as showing us that she is pushing herself to the limit. This is used to make you feel sympathetic towards her as she is already pushing herself so hard, what if it's not enough to save her life?
When she is running the obstacle course the music is classical and very loud, it's used to draw the attention to the screen and also to build tension. When paired with the low-key lighting, misty forest it brings together this really creepy, almost scary atmosphere. This however cuts off when she leaves the forest to go to speak with Crawford. It is replaced with diegetic sounds of a work place, noises from the kitchen, elevator noises ect.... This could suggest that Clarice isn't safe outside, on her own. It could even foreshadow a possible future for the protagonist. She is seen to be wearing work-out clothes, which again suggests she's pushing herself to her limit which has the same effect on the audience that the editing does. 
Overall I think this is a really strong thriller opening because it sets the tone for the film in the first minute, like I previously mentioned, possibly foreshadowing Clarice's future then brings you back to reality where you see she actually isn't in danger just yet.