Thriller Essay

How does the director of the thriller film 'Se7en' create tension in the opening scene?

The opening to the film 'se7en' is a very dark and mysterious scene creating a sense of mystery through various techniques such as lighting, text and diagetic/non-diagetic sound. The mood of this scene sets the tone for the rest of the entire movie.

The lighting used in this opening sequence is key to creating a clear and dramatic sense of the thriller genre that will echo throughout the entire piece. Strong back lighting is used to white wash the rear of the frame and create focus on the pages being turned in the foreground of the shot. This technique creates a warm and satisfying feel to the start of the film reassuring the audience of the mood and lulling them in to a false sense of security which is key for the thriller genre. Also the fact that the pages are the only objects to be seen in the first frames allows the viewer to focus on the book and create a sense of mystery towards what is written within.

Another way the director uses the opening to create the basis of a thriller genre is through the use of Non-diagetic and diagetic sound which creates the suspense in the opening scenes. The non-diagetic music heard in the background of the piece increases in tempo as the scene progresses, on a closer analysis, the transition of shots quickens with the pace of the music to build tension within the scene and heighten excitement for the audience. The diagetic sounds present within the opening scene are very mechanical, emphasising the workings of an object the character is using or suggesting something to the audience that cannot be seen. The sound of the pages being turned also adds to the tension of the piece because it contrasts to the quick sounds of the music to create suspense for the viewer.

Extreme close ups throughout the clip also create suspense for the audience because the camera never fully reveals the bigger picture of the scene and keeps them guessing throughout the opening sequence to ensure they are gripped by the time the first characters are shown. Also, coupled with the diagetic sound of mechanics working and papers, the close up shots define what the viewer is seeing in the frame and helps to create a sense of precision and quality in the persons work.

The use of text in the opening credits is very effective in creating tension for the viewers, the use of 'handwriting' style text and 'projector like' imagery creates a sense of darkness within the scene and the constant flashing of white and yellow disorientates the audience and makes them concentrate on the images more carefully which heightens the drama of the credits. Also the effects used on the typography to create flashing and messy credits gives the impression that the characters are rushing to work and are jotting the character names down like suspects or clues.

The director uses a range of techniques including sound, camera angles, lighting and text which collectively build tension throughout the entire scene leaving the audience on the edge of their seats when the first characters are introduced. This is an effective way of starting a thriller because it entices the viewer in to the story and then hooks them as soon as the first character situation is presented.