Student Film Opening Analysis

The following student thriller film opening is called Catechize,

Editing:

Second Text

First Text

This thriller opening is heavily edited. The use of transitions are used in a rapid pace by the merging of different shots using fades. These transitions work along with the overall pace of the opening making them a great combination. There is a use of a lot filters and flashes which creates an eerie atmosphere, the black flashes add a blinding effect that daunts the audience. Also, the editor manipulated a shot by rewinding the whole sequence of a pile of images. The last picture in the pile was a girl who is seen repeatedly in the opening which could be a possible clue of the plot. The text which is used for the credits has the tendency to switch from fonts in the same shot and are normally located in the corners. The first text is in a normal font whereas the second text is in an eerie and ominous font.

Mise en Scene: 

It is hard to decipher the location of the opening as there isn't a lot of clues to portray the location. However the audience is forced to conjure an image of the location, a isolated and white room, where possible victims are kept. The audience sees a girl who looks like shes been kidnapped, shes is tied up and had a white sack over her head. There is also a girl with a blooded stained scissor near her which suggest "death"? The opening ends with a possible killer who drags a body into a lift, this clue clearly highlights that the film involves death. 

Camera:

The opening uses extreme close up of a character eyes which is repeatedly done. This character could be of significant to the plot thus keeping his identity discrete. We also see the back of a persons

head who is getting drowned, this emphasises that there is a lot of killing in the film. The camera also pans from the foot of a female to her hidden face, the panning builds up tension as it goes up due to the slowness of the shot. 

Sound:

The film opening has a constant heartbeat which plays through to the end from the start. The heartbeat works along the non digetic knocks and thumps which creates an overwhelming affect on the audience that puts them on the edge of their seat. The heartbeat sound is in contrast with what we see as a lifeless looking character is present however we hear a heartbeat. This would confuse the audience as they wouldn't know what to believe.

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