Thriller Openings - Lucy O'Reilly

Psycho (1960) – 

• Non Diegetic sound as music is used to construct mood at the beginning of this film and to add suspense
• Establishing shot used in conjunction with a pan so that the audience understand and know where the action is taking place
• Urban exterior setting
• Costume, hair and makeup used is very realistic making the audience believe the action unfolding a lot more as it adds to the realism
• Continuity editing also adds to the realism because it adds a sense of flow and coherence
• ECU used as a variation of shot types enticing the audience more as they know what is on the other side of the window is of importance to the film
• The happy images on screen are matched by the slow sound of the violin - parallel sound is used in the scene to enhance the audiences vision of the action
• The title sequence of the film lasts for roughly two minutes backed by a soundtrack with a mixture of low and high pitched violins being played at a rather fast speed which sets the pace for the rest of the film. This makes the audience realise from the beginning that they will be on the edge of their seats as the music is very eerie creating suspense from the first note played
• A cutaway shot is used as the male character mentions that the woman ‘had not eaten her lunch’. The use of this changes the place of action briefly and gives the audience more information about the woman
• Setting used is very normal/simple (first scene set in a hotel) and because of this the audience become more scared as it is relatable and could happen to them.
• Blinds are pulled close to shut for a reason – makes audience wonder what is being hidden behind them
• The majority of shots used are static allowing the audience to take in plenty of detail about each shot and will be able to see anything symbolic (knowledge that will later be needed)

Hide and Seek (2005)  –

• ECU used to disorientate audience

• The music used in the first scene is slightly contrapuntal to the action because what the audience is seeing on the screen appears to be happiness amongst a family however the non diegetic music is very eerie with the use of violins introducing threat and creating a sinister mood
• Music slows down dramatically on the change between the first two scenes as if the exterior scene was more of a fantasy/dream life and as soon as the characters are placed in the house they are back to reality. This change between the two settings shows the sadness and possible danger when in the interior/enclosed space, reflecting threat and adding to the sinister mood
• Sound effect of tap dripping adds to realism
• Low key lighting used in the scene of Emily's bedroom during the short game of hide and seek adds to the tension because you feel as if something may jump out
• Silhouette of mother makes the audience think that the woman may be hiding something
• In the bathing scene the key light is not bright but the room is lit up more by the props - candles. Candles give off a natural light and have a warm film and are used in thrillers to contrast the action
• Police siren in the background of the bathing scene subtly introduces fear into the audiences minds
• Uses a discontinuity feature of a shock cut which disrupts the quite sequence, when done in conjunction with sound it can scare and shock the audience. Here it is used to show his dream (he is dreaming of a memory but here the audience do not know)
• 02:06 - ECU of a significant prop, the use of this shot adds enigma as the audience are aware that the shot/prop/time will be relevant to the rest of the story

Inhale (2010)  –

• First scene - radio conversation used to give the audience an idea about what may happen in the film. Used along with the soundtrack, it gives a very eerie feel and adds to the mood and atmosphere

• Non-diegetic sound gets louder in conjunction with the brightness of the light preparing the audience for a change in mood or atmosphere
• At the loudest point of the soundtrack the car hits the other, the SFX are heightened a lot to cause a fright in the viewers
• CU used on characters faces during the car scene to show reaction to the radio show being heard but mainly to see their expressions when they crash the car
• Establishing shots used to show location and setting
• Fade to black after car crash is used to enhance the effect of it, making the audience feel as if they had experienced it too. The music gets louder at this point too to add to the tension 
• ECUs used to distort the viewers. The ECU of the glass on the windscreen of the car is first seen blurred but then is pulled into focus, this makes us have a more realistic experience of the car crash; as if we have opened our eyes and have seen that.
• ECUs also allow us to see the injuries on the characters, introducing threat and danger
• Ambulance sirens are cleverly used to connect the first and the following scene together. It is done by hearing the sound bridge in the first scene (of the ambulance) then it switches to a shot of the ambulance driving, followed by a shot of a man (unknown to us at this point in time) checking his mirror as he hears the ambulance approach. This is a very clever and smooth way of connecting to separate scenes together and to show that they somehow are or will be linked
• The radio is heard again when the man turns it on and tunes in the particular radio station. By doing this the audience are reassured it is an important part of the film
• The costume, hair and make-up is very natural and normal reflecting the environment they are in. This adds to the realism enticing the audience more as they believe the action unfolding.
• The non-diegetic sound suddenly cuts as there is a change of scene which allows the audience to adapt to the next scene

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

• Establishing shot used to show rural setting. Set in the woods so don't know what is out there adding enigma to film
• The soundtrack used is parallel to the setting and overall mood set, this enhances the audiences vision
• Violins are used as part of the non-diegetic sound to create an eerie atmosphere
• very foggy, going into the unkown adds tension and feer
• The woods are very foggy and when the protagonist enters it is as if she is going into the unknown adding tension and fear
• Tracking shots used as she is running adds to the pace of the film and also creates realism - as if we're running with her
• The sign 'HURT   AGONY   PAIN  LOVE-IT' hints and introduces threat into the thriller 
• As her setting changes from exterior to interior there is already a visible threat - the guns. Although they haven't been seen to have been used in a harmful way the guns hint danger
• Man is wearing  a hat which hides his identity slightly, this makes the audience ask questions about who he is and why he is important
• Bird and cricket SFX used to add to the realism, this entices the audience more as they believe the action unfolding
• As the female protagonist exits the woods the non diegetic sound changes to a more uplifting music. This is done in conjunction with the lighting - becomes brighter and warmer, giving the film a more upbeat and positive mood