Portfolio Project Blogging: Researching film openings

 For my genre research, I looked at three thriller film openings to see what techniques they use and what they do in general to be able to hook the audience so well. Thriller openings are very important because they set the tone and create suspense right away. Most thrillers start with tension, mystery, or danger to make the viewer feel the tension from the beginning.

Scream (1996)

 One thriller movie opening I analyzed was Scream. The movie starts with a phone call that slowly becomes scary. At first it seems normal, but as the conversation continues, the tension builds. The lighting is dark, the setting is isolated, and the audience quickly realizes something bad is going to happen. This opening does a great job at establishing danger and suspense right from the start.

Se7en (1995)

Another thriller opening I researched is Se7en. Instead of action, the film starts with disturbing scenes and intense music during the first few minutes. The dark imagery and uncomfortable tone prepare the audience for the serious and violent story that comes after. It makes the viewer feel uncomfortable, which is a very common characteristic of the thriller genre.

Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The third opening I looked at was The Silence of the Lambs. The film opens with the main character training alone in the woods. This creates a sense of isolation and seriousness. The audience is curious about who she is and what she is preparing for. This slow and tense opening hooks the reader's attention while also making sure to not give too much detail about the story right away.

Overall, these openings show that thrillers focus on building suspense early. They use sound, lighting, and mystery to hook the audience instead of explaining everything right away.