Analysis Of Three Psychological Thrillers:

Film one :
Shinning - (cant be embedded)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw23KM3-Ry8

In the beginning opening scene of “The shinning” (1980) the soundtrack starts off with brass instruments playing quietly whilst getting louder throughout the clip. The pace starts to get faster and faster before the brass instruments just keep a constant sound in the background whilst string instruments start playing and take over with a sound that builds big tension in the background. The sound effects of the soundtrack keep getting faster and faster building up tension which relates to the psychological thriller by building the tension of the film up until they just stop and the brass instruments start again until the end of the clip which relates to a psychological thriller as we believe that something will happen then nothing happens, the music plays with the audiences minds.

Throughout the clip of “the shinning” the clip uses natural lighting, this added to the mysterious music builds tension to the scene. The fact the car driving in the scene is on its own throughout the clip without any other cars helps trick the audience into believing that something is about to happen, this also helps represent the genre of psychological thriller by building up suspense in the opening. Throughout the clip there is a lot of water which represents psychological thrillers really well, as psychological thrillers have a lot to do with horrors the one main difference between the to is that the difference of blood (red) and water (blue). Horrors tend to have a lot of violence a blood in them whereas psychological thrillers tend to have a lot of water and mirrors help scare the audience. The titles that show throughout the clip are also blue which again helps reflect the genre of psychological thrillers.

Film two:


In the opening scene of “se7en”(1995) the background soundtrack starts with a slow robotic sound effect which stays the same throughout most of the clip. Added to this sound there are many sound effects from scratching sounds to twitching noises which are still quite slow paced then there is different pitched squeaks which are fast paced and continue to get faster throughout the film in order to build tension in the audience. Whilst adding suspense to the clip. This reflects the genre of psychological thriller through the building of tension in the audience for nothing to happen yet. The titles for the film are all in a scribbled white lettering style which shows the genre of psychological thriller by using a pale natural colour, Unlike a horror which would probably use a red or dark colour to show violence and blood already in the clip.

Film three:
American psycho(cant be embedded)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvNL_u6IaRM

In the opening scene of this film the soundtrack plays a vital role, it straight away shows the time that it is from, it is a song that is famous from the 1980’s. The song chosen is a very eerie song that echoes around the room, it creates a feeling of unease against a backdrop of people dancing and having a good time. This song helps this opening fit in with the theme of a psychological thriller. The dialogue seems normal until the female is out of ear shot when the man threatens her, this shows the seediness of the bar and its inhabitants through the initial view that all seems normal it shows that the film will not be a straight forward horror.

The genre of the film is of psychological thriller. This is shown through different methods, these include the sound and the dialogue, and they go onto other less obvious things. The actors are all shown to be shady characters through the backhand money transitions. The lighting also gives this view as it is low level which creates the sense of danger and unknowing, this coupled with the disco lights creates mystery. The people in the club are shown to be dancing and all happy, but the character at the stereotypical 80’s bar is shown to be a killer or a man to be in fear of. The costumes all points back to the film being set in the 1980’s through the fashion of suites, the makeup which is very extreme and the style of dancing which is “yuppie” dance.

The genre of psychological thriller is shown through the way that people are dancing and being happy when a man is threatening to kill a women. This shows that the film would not be an open horror but will be more a psychological thriller.

Analysis of Different Genre film openings

Animation | Adventure | Family | Romance | Sci-Fi:


The first part of the opening for WALL:E shows  Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures film this shows the audience straight away the family aspect of genre as these institutions are seen as family film companies,  as in the past the companies have produced many successful family films
The lettering styles the audience first see are in a outer space location which gives the audience the idea that the film has a sci-fi genre.
The sound suggests animation with voicing music which appears happy and fast paced showing the audience that WALL:E is a family film. The background music picks up which shows there is a adventure genre in the film and the open narrative creates the atmosphere for the adventure to develop throughout the film.
The film opening landscape of outer space gives a sense of adventure to the audience, The setting then moves on to a sandy landscape which is light compared to the previous landscape, conveying a different genre of mystery which changes the audiences opinion and uses the “hypodermic needle theory” to make the audience want to watch the whole film.





Drama | Comedy | Romance:

At the beginning of the opening of forest Gump we are introduced to paramount pictures as the institutional company that presents the film. The opening has an open narrative which shows the audience that the film will develop.
The main part of the opening shows a small white feather slowly drifting down through the city which doesn’t represent the Drama side of the genre but could suggest peace which has juxtaposition the war and action themes shown in the film.
The music starts off light and picks up pace as the feather gets gradually closer to the ground. This reflects aspects of genre as it begins to show peace and picks up pace to give a sense of drama and some action is going to develop within the film. The exterior setting shows scenery of the southern state of America in which the film is set besides the war fronts.The introduction gives titles of actors which increases box office appeal and the themes and atmosphere shown reflect the genre well.

Casino royale opening

Casino Royale Opening:

Genre:
• spy- action thriller

Narrative:
• Gambling
• violence
• love

Character:
• James bond / Daniel Craig

Atmosphere:
• Sneaky
• Suspicious
• Violence
• Mystery

Themes:
• Aces
• Gambling
• Guns
• Fighting
• Love
• Mystery

Setting:
• Casino- cards and stereotypical surroundings.

Sound:
• Soundtrack- performed by Chris Cornell

Titles:
• White
• Plain
• Standout
• Singular

Casino royale trailer

Casino royale trailer:

Genre:
• Spy-action

Narrative:
• Killing
• Betrayal
• Love
• Redemption

Character:
• James bond – spy, cold hearted and killer.

Atmosphere:
• Spy
• Tension
• Upbeat
• Fast

Themes:
• Action
• Spy
• Love
• Betrayal
• Survival

Setting:
• Jungle
• Casino
• Hotel
• Sea

Sound:
• Theme tune throughout creates tension and familiarity.

Title:
• Stands out
• Uses logo in title
• White on dark background stands out
• Grabs attention
• Creates familiarity with brand products

Here states how many differences there are between both film trailers and openings:

Trailers:
- gives information and details of the film
- include montages (fragmented narrative), giving the audience an outline of the plot
- tend to fade to black several times
- include the title at the end of the trailer
- have a tag line
- include the institution logos at the start


Openings:
- list important members of the cast and crew at the start or throughout the opening
- include the title at the start of the film
- generally introduce the characters and setting
- set a mood or tone, historical period (if any) and genre
- create questions amongst the audience
- demonstrate the patterns/types of editing that will be used in the film

Differences Between Film Openings And Film Trailers

Openings:
*The film opening generally lists important members of the cast and crew at the throughout the opening
*It also Includes the title at the start of the film during the first part of the opening
*Normally introducing the main character/characters in the film
*The film opening tends to highlight the genre
*The Opening also tends to create questions amongst the audience making them want to watch the entire film.Trailers:
*Trailers only tents to give information and minor details of the film
*Trailers normally have the institution logos shown within the first 10 seconds of a trailer
*Most trailers fade to black to have some sort of effect on the audience to build some sort of atmosphere
*The title of the film will normally be the last thing shown on a trailer
* Most trailers includes different settings to create atmospheres to help piece together the storyline

Notes On Trailers And Openings

The filming.
- hold shot steady
- framing a shot
- using a variety of shot distances
- shooting material appropriate
- selecting mise

Opening.
- details of cast and crew and institution producing the film
- films title
- intro to character or character type
- indication of place/setting
- info on mood and tone
- info on signature theme tune
- info on genre

Genre
Narrative
Character
Atmosphere
Themes
Setting
Sound
Titles

Catch me if you can.
Link:


Genre.
- Drama
- Action
- Chase

Character.
- Detective
- Criminal
- Pointed out by an arrow

Atmosphere.
- Suspicious

Setting.
- Hospital
- Airport
- America 'yellow cabs'

Sound.
- Tension
- 1960's feel

Narrative.
- Tells the storyline
- Use of iconography
- Hiding and Chasing

Title.
- Title near the beginning of the opening

My Best Friends Wedding.
Link:

Genre.

Genre.
- Romantic Comedy
- The colour pink!

Narrative.
- Something is going to go wrong.
- Wedding
- Friends

Character.
- Bride
- Bridesmaids
- Groom

Atmosphere.
- Light
- Happy
- Feminine
- Musical

Themes.
- Love
- Happiness
- Wedding

Setting.
- Studio (micky take so not appropriate for a church)
- Wedding Preparations

Sound.
- The music giving instruction on how to treat a man

Titles.
- Handwritten font (maybe like an invitation)
- Julia Roberts (Box Office Appeal)