Se7en Opening sequence analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S32RP5SnEM (Opening sequence of Se7en)

Through out the opening sequence the director uses close ups and extreme close ups. One reason the director would have chosen to use these shots is to keep the character in the opening sequences identity a secret, and by only focusing on the characters hands the audience are automatically drawn in and will want find out who this mysterious character is. The type of camera movement used in the opening sequence is a pan movement to the right displaying a various amount of books.














The sounds and noises heard in the opening scene are noises which you would associate with Machinery in a factory or a warehouse.  The director would have chosen to do use theses sounds because it gives the idea that this character could be planning to do something dangerous or is committing crimes. The sounds in the opening sequence are an example of non-digetic sounds. The sounds in the opening sequence are also quite screechy and eerie create the sense of someone suffering.

In the opening sequence there are the editing is different shots cut and then put together this could represent how the characters feeling and how they have no control with what's going on. Also this may have done this to keep the audience guessing about who the character is or who they are. Also the credits are displayed in a disorientated text to give the impression that things are unorganized.

The director uses a fade effect which gives a more mysterious feeling/ atmosphere, this makes the audience feel as if this suggested antagonist is hiding from someone or doesn't want to be found. There is also a yellow glow which gives a more spooky effect and gives off this vibe of danger and fear. Also during the opening sequence there is a time where the camera appears to show double, this type of editing could have bee used to represent that the antagonist is not in there right mind and may be under the influence of drugs.

In the opening sequence objects such as Needles, newspaper cut outs, blood, images of  the dead, razors and books are identified. All these objects are what you would normally associate with a serial killer or someone crazy. This would indicate that this man or woman is the antagonist in the film. It would also suggest that this antagonist is used to or has become accustomed to committing crimes.

In the opening scene it gives the idea that there is only one character in the film and it shows him cutting the skin of his fingertips. In doing this it shows that he wants to remain anonymous and doesn't want to be tracked. He also associates himself with things to do with death which shows he could be planning a murder or has already committed one. This also shows how the character in this scene is likely to be the antagonist/ villain in the film.

The location of the opening scene seems to be in either a basement or warehouse this is obvious because there seems to be no source of natural light. This gives the impression that the antagonist does not want to be found or discovered.  This may be down to him performing illegal actions or is in hiding from someone.

The opening sequence of the film seems to give the idea of a thriller due to the objects in the scene and the behavior of the character which seems to be mysterious and dastardly. By the director deciding not to show the characters face, It gives the audience the impression that this film will consist of a mystery and that our hero will probably try to find out who the mysterious antagonist is.

From the opening sequence the themes of the film seem to be Death and Murder you get this idea because of the use of blood, razors and images of the dead.

The visual style of the opening sequence is dark, gloomy and a slight glow in the background. Also the titles are displayed in a unique way.

In the opening sequence the genre of this film indicates it is thriller or a horror film. This again is because the character and the location in the opening scene has been kept a secret. This kind of secrecy and dark practice are usually seen in genres such as thriller and horror.