Brief intro analysis x4

The original Halloween (1978)

The Halloween opening is successful in creating a tense mood with its use of non-digetic sound, and the POV shot. We follow an unknown figure as he breaks into a couples house. Unaware of this characters presence the couple continue living like normal until the husband leaves the house. The wife is now vulnerable and the character we are on board with goes to her room and kills her. This was accompanied by constant sound of a high pitch 'squeel' from the sound of a piano (non-digetic) which hints at the unknown figures bad intention, which overall created a very tense and fearful intro for the audience.

Se7en

This intro creates unease and confusion to its audience. The scene shows an extreme close-up shot of actions a unknown character is performing. Many are shown of him writing and they appear on screen rather fast. This use of thematic editing is accompanied by flickering title credits of the actors starring in the movie which are written in a worn font. This furthermore followed by a theme tune of scratching sounds over a slow beat creates a very ambiguous intro for the audience.

The usual suspects

This opening scene creates a very dark mood for the audience, and uses fire as its main connotation for danger. The key light is from the a flickering fire in the background, from the two men having a conversation. Their dialogue is very slow and there is a contrast in the way the characters are presented to show the hidden face figure is in control. He literally presented as a standing shadow over the man who is on the ground. His face is also revealed which connotes some vulnerability and this was the case as the shadow figure draws a gun and shoots him. The scene ends with the unknown figure lighting a petrol trail which leads to 'something' exploding.

Memento

This intro takes a rather unique approach with its use of reverse footage. A brief title sequence takes place before you see a mans hand on a photograph, then you notice the scene is in rewind. The image is being placed back in a camera and you see the flash which caused the image you had just viewed, which was a dead man who had been shot. This becomes further effective as the scene is rewinding, you wonder who shot the man and as the bullet rolls back into the chamber, you learn it was the man who took the picture. This is accompanied by a low sounding 'hum' which emphasizes the slow paste of the scene, to give it a dramatic feeling.