Comparing openings of films

Seven

The film opening Seven (1995), it is a thriller detective that is also horror. It stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman who are both introduced in the opening sequence. The titles don't come on until the introduction has finished, which allows the audience to become interested in the film before it truly begins. The introduction just tells the audience the story and ends on a cliff hanger as the titles begin. The introduction gives us a glimpse of horror and mystery.

The opening scene with Morgen Freeman shows him doing his job as a detective in a grotty dark house, that's crawling with police. Later on Brad Pitt comes onto the sence and is the 'new' replacement, he acts cocky and thinks he knows best. However he doesn't know what kind of gruesome murders he will have to investigate.

The camerawork and edits are fairly slow as the excitement hasn't begun yet. The camera seems to follow the actors as they walk and also talk, there are a lot of big close ups on the actors expressions as they talk which lets the audience really find out about the character the actor is playing.

The opening begins and the writing is scribbled as if hand written , the titles fade, jump and blurr, these effects keep the audience interested. It looks as if someone (as in the murder) is making a book or a collection of previous murders. The feel to the introduction is scary and slightly mysterious. Also the shaving off of the fingertips gives a creepy, horrible feeling also suggesting that the murder is trying to hind their identity. This gruesome kind of acting tells us more about the genre of the film and possibly a clue to how the film will begin. There are short sharp edits, a mixture of pictures and a black background this makes the titles look very muddled and mysterious. The sound in the opening sequence is the sound of scribbling and creaking a mixture of confusing sounds.

Ransom

Ransom(1996), a thriller starring Mel Gibson. The title sequence starts from the beginning unlike Seven. It slowly introduces the titles and the name of the film is slowly revealed. The red colour suggests danger, the bold font also suggests a strong and bold film. We see the streets of New York and then the camera gradually leads up to the pent house in one of the high buildings. This is where a party is beginning and its a celebration for the success of the Mel Gibson character. the music also suggests danger, with the deep tone as if its a slow heart beat, its intense and empowering. As people or the characters come into view the name of the film becomes clear. The edits are rather long but slow, the camera following the actors as they move around the set.

Ransom is a similar film to Seven, its starts off as very mysterious and both film have a troubled middle, however it is produced in a different way. The actors are very different, Seven is set in very dark places and is more of a trail of mystery and horror. Ransom isn't as dark and it deals with a family life and how the events within the film effect that. Ransoms opening doesn't give away that there is as much danger and horror involved as Seven, it is slightly more lighter.

">

Psycho

Psycho(1960)this film is much older than Ransom and Seven. it is in black and white it stars old actors, it doesn't have any special effects and the camera work and sound is simple yet very effective. As both Seven and Ransom are horror mystery films and Psycho is fairly similar it is also very different. The opening sequence is simple and plain but the music is very effective, as it is sharp and loud it strikes just as the lines shoot onto the screen. The straight lines that cut across the screen suggest a cutting action, which fits in well with the name 'psycho'. The colours are black and white but very bold.

The comparisons with the previous films and Psycho really shows how much films have moved on and become very advanced with the help from technology since 1960.