The Conventions of a typical thriller/horror film opening
- introduce production company logo
- introduce distribution company logo
- often carry a title sequence
- mood and tone established with sound
- intended to hook the audience into the film, done through narrative
- introduced to key characters, in the opening of the film
Micheal the oldest Son of the family returns home from military school, only to find out that his mother is soon to be married to a man he's never met before. As the two get to know each other Micheal becomes more suspicious of the Man his mother is engaged to, after only each other knowing for 6 months.
Analysis: We chose 'The stepfather' as an example to analyse for our research, as we felt that it has a strong opening and gave out a clear message to the viewers about the story line of the film.
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| Screen shot of the 'Salt Lake City Gazette' mailing list. |
The film begins by using an establishing pan shot to show the suburban family neighbourhood. The credits are slyly disguised into the opening, which introduce the American screen production company 'Stone Gem's', and the distribution companies; Maverick Films, Imprint Entertainment and Granada. They use Text rather than logos in the opening.
We then see a delivery man from the 'Salt Lake City Gazette', the camera tilts downwards to the name 'Bennett' which is highlighted in yellow and shows that the services have been cancelled. Which follows the background information, John List also candled the families delivery services after murdering them. The vibrant yellow highlight is an indication of danger straight away. The delivery van drives away, and the next scene starts by panning across a bathroom, specifically across clean razors, shavers, and scissors.At very left viewers may notice a contact case. A Caucasian male, with a thick beard and moustache, brown eyes, and glasses appears, at first out of focus.
We then see a delivery man from the 'Salt Lake City Gazette', the camera tilts downwards to the name 'Bennett' which is highlighted in yellow and shows that the services have been cancelled. Which follows the background information, John List also candled the families delivery services after murdering them. The vibrant yellow highlight is an indication of danger straight away. The delivery van drives away, and the next scene starts by panning across a bathroom, specifically across clean razors, shavers, and scissors.At very left viewers may notice a contact case. A Caucasian male, with a thick beard and moustache, brown eyes, and glasses appears, at first out of focus.
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| Screen shot of the stepfather, he changes his appearance completely. |
When he appears in focus the text 'the stepfather' appears around him.
Whilst this man continues to change his appearance, by dying his hair black, shaving his beard and moustache, and putting in blue contacts. Text of the main actors and actresses names appear.
The mood and tone are established by a non-diagetic instrumental. It is an icy sound, with cool drones playing through it.
The audience are hooked into the film, although not through narrative. The stepfather puts on Christmas music, normally we would use Christmas music for a happy scene which is what makes his kills seem worse. It is the way in which the stepfather carries on as usual, as if he had were an ordinary man. or perhaps, it is the strong contrast between the dirty dishes in one sink and bloody weapons in the other.
The audience are hooked into the film, although not through narrative. The stepfather puts on Christmas music, normally we would use Christmas music for a happy scene which is what makes his kills seem worse. It is the way in which the stepfather carries on as usual, as if he had were an ordinary man. or perhaps, it is the strong contrast between the dirty dishes in one sink and bloody weapons in the other.
Opinions&evaluation: We felt that the stepfather had an intense opening, that left the viewers wondering what he would do next, and where he would go. did he have a reason to kill his family? and what normal person could carry on like that? Without the use of narration, the film has managed to hook the viewer through non-diagetic music and shocking images which created suspense.
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