The opening scene of a thriller film is important as it shows briefly what kind of film it is, and the conventions that will be repeated throughout the film. The opening sequence is important as it can engage the audience, which will make the film enjoyable for them, or it will make the audience lose interest in the film. the opening scene can show the audience what types of setting, themes and the genre of the film, without giving the main narrative away to the audience.
Conventions
After watching the opening sequence of Halloween you can see that there are many different conventions that are typical of the thriller genre. Such as the use of a blonde female victim and a masked killer, which is used by many other thrillers before and after this film. Other conventions were used like eery high pitched music in the background. The blonde female victims are a popular convention in the thriller genre and they are portrayed as weak, this is important as it helps the audience relate to her and want her to survive, which builds a relationship in the film between the characters and the audience, this is important because it can help to build suspense. The masked killer adds mystery to the film, this is mainly why the masked killers are a popular convention of thriller films as they need mystery in the film.
After watching the opening sequence of Halloween you can see that there are many different conventions that are typical of the thriller genre. Such as the use of a blonde female victim and a masked killer, which is used by many other thrillers before and after this film. Other conventions were used like eery high pitched music in the background. The blonde female victims are a popular convention in the thriller genre and they are portrayed as weak, this is important as it helps the audience relate to her and want her to survive, which builds a relationship in the film between the characters and the audience, this is important because it can help to build suspense. The masked killer adds mystery to the film, this is mainly why the masked killers are a popular convention of thriller films as they need mystery in the film.
Cinematography
The opening sequence of Halloween uses only two different camera angles. The first camera angle is Point of View of the killer. the audience can see exactly what the killer is doing, which is very effective at creating suspense in the scene. The other camera angle is a High Angle. The high angle is used to pan out of the scene. It has a dramatic effect on the audience and it creates an emotional distance with the character. Other conventional camera angles in the thriller genre could be a close up shot, which many thriller films use to focus on a specific character and to help build suspense in the scene.
The opening sequence of Halloween uses only two different camera angles. The first camera angle is Point of View of the killer. the audience can see exactly what the killer is doing, which is very effective at creating suspense in the scene. The other camera angle is a High Angle. The high angle is used to pan out of the scene. It has a dramatic effect on the audience and it creates an emotional distance with the character. Other conventional camera angles in the thriller genre could be a close up shot, which many thriller films use to focus on a specific character and to help build suspense in the scene.
Sound
The sounds used in the opening sequence are important as they are the first sounds that engages the audience. In the opening sequence of Halloween there is use of a high pitched key which is used to build the suspense. This is a use of non-diagetic sound, which is added during the editing stage of the film, but still one of the most important and popular conventions of any thriller film. other sounds used that are conventional to the thriller genre include, the clock that is steadily ticking as the character is walking up the stairs and the soundtrack which is also-non diagetic, the soundtrack builds up for the death of the victim, which helps to create suspense in the scene and build a relationship between the audience and the characters. The sounds used in this opening sequence are typical to the thriller genre as they engage the audience in the scene and that helps to build suspense.
The sounds used in the opening sequence are important as they are the first sounds that engages the audience. In the opening sequence of Halloween there is use of a high pitched key which is used to build the suspense. This is a use of non-diagetic sound, which is added during the editing stage of the film, but still one of the most important and popular conventions of any thriller film. other sounds used that are conventional to the thriller genre include, the clock that is steadily ticking as the character is walking up the stairs and the soundtrack which is also-non diagetic, the soundtrack builds up for the death of the victim, which helps to create suspense in the scene and build a relationship between the audience and the characters. The sounds used in this opening sequence are typical to the thriller genre as they engage the audience in the scene and that helps to build suspense.
Characters
In the opening sequence the is only a few characters, mainly the killer, who is dressed in a Halloween costume, which is normal for a child on Halloween night. There is a use of teenagers, which is another popular convention in the thriller genre, as they are portrayed as naive, this helps thriller films to use them as victims. The parents are seen at the end of the scene, they look scared and are questioning their son as to why he has a bloody knife in his hand. the family seem like a normal family, which is also a convention that is used in thriller films as the use of a normal family and characters helps the audience relate to them, and build a relationship between them and the characters.
In the opening sequence the is only a few characters, mainly the killer, who is dressed in a Halloween costume, which is normal for a child on Halloween night. There is a use of teenagers, which is another popular convention in the thriller genre, as they are portrayed as naive, this helps thriller films to use them as victims. The parents are seen at the end of the scene, they look scared and are questioning their son as to why he has a bloody knife in his hand. the family seem like a normal family, which is also a convention that is used in thriller films as the use of a normal family and characters helps the audience relate to them, and build a relationship between them and the characters.
Narrative
The narrative contains various conventions such a typical blonde female victim, who is murdered by her brother, this is the main focus of the scene and the suspense is building to the climax of that. The scene is ended with the parents coming home to the horror of their son outside with a knife. The narrative is effective at building suspense and showing the theme and genre of the film. The setting of the opening scene is in a typical American suburb, which the audience may relate to and be able to imagine themselves being in the same position as the characters in the film.
The narrative contains various conventions such a typical blonde female victim, who is murdered by her brother, this is the main focus of the scene and the suspense is building to the climax of that. The scene is ended with the parents coming home to the horror of their son outside with a knife. The narrative is effective at building suspense and showing the theme and genre of the film. The setting of the opening scene is in a typical American suburb, which the audience may relate to and be able to imagine themselves being in the same position as the characters in the film.
Editing
There is a use of continuity editing, this means that the editing is smooth throughout the sequence. Also the timing of the shots is typical of thrillers, as the sequence is edited to make it look like the sequence is fast, which adds suspense. during the murder the editing is more fast paced to get the audience excited. These types of editing are typical to thrillers as they are used to create suspense and shock for the audience.
There is a use of continuity editing, this means that the editing is smooth throughout the sequence. Also the timing of the shots is typical of thrillers, as the sequence is edited to make it look like the sequence is fast, which adds suspense. during the murder the editing is more fast paced to get the audience excited. These types of editing are typical to thrillers as they are used to create suspense and shock for the audience.
Conclusion
The opening sequence of the thriller inform the audience of the conventions of a thriller as it shows them from the start, with a house in a suburban area, which the audience can relate too. As the first sequence continues other conventions are shown such as the mask and the knife are focused on as is the blonde female victim which is highly focused. The conventions that are used are again repeated in the film so the conventions in the opening sequence do show the audience alot about the film.
The opening sequence of the thriller inform the audience of the conventions of a thriller as it shows them from the start, with a house in a suburban area, which the audience can relate too. As the first sequence continues other conventions are shown such as the mask and the knife are focused on as is the blonde female victim which is highly focused. The conventions that are used are again repeated in the film so the conventions in the opening sequence do show the audience alot about the film.
Summary
After analysing the opening scene of halloween, I have gained more of an understanding as to what codes and conventions to use in my own opening scene, I have also seen what are effective at creating suspense.
Your analysis of Halloween demonstrates some understanding of the codes and conventions of a thriller film. You have made a start in identifying the correct micro elements, but feel your analysis is more like a summary. This is because you have not explored your examples in enough detail.
ReplyDeleteTo develop this post, you need to-
1) Read over your work and ensure that you have included three different examples, for each of the micro elements
2) Realte your points back to the codes and conventions of a thriller film in more detail
3) Consider the relationship between the audience and the characters
4) Include examples in your summary, to discuss what ideas/inspirations you have gained from your research and how it will assist you with planning your work.