Analysis of Thriller openings.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)Directed by Eric Bress& J. Mackye Gruber. (psychological thriller):
Starring Ashton Kutcher.
Opens with the chaos theory. "It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing, can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world" - Chaos Theory.
Fast high-pitched tones pump adrenaline and keep the audience on their toes already.
Mise en scene & lighting:
The frosted windows of an office reveal a figures cautiously walking behind them. The dim lighting implies it is night time, a time of particular vulnerability.
Torches reinforce that it's night. The frantic waving of them into the room adds to the tension and the search.
Sound:
The whine of the violin in the background, builds up tension. Then when he breaks through the office door, drums kick in. It is faced-paced, building tension and building up to a climax.
His heavy breathing imply he has being running away or is nervous. He reads out what he writes down. the things he mentions are unfamiliar to the audience, so also keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, wanting to find out the meaning behind the letter.
The men shouting in the background are seemingly looking for someone, we suddenly realize that they are looking for Ashton Kutcher's character.
Close up on his letter, the music gets more tense & is the dominant sound. This helps the change of scene, where we presumably find out what put him in his current position.
Camera Angles:
Mainly medium-shots for when he is walking outside the office. Quite realistic.
When he is lay on the floor, there are lots of close-ups of the expressions on his face. Low angles are used when the searchers are looking for him, as if we as the audience are hiding too.
In his letter, the close up on the words "to save her" leave the audience wondering who she is. Also the music gets more tense.


SE7EN (1995) Directed by David Fincher (Crime & psychological thriller):
Starring Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey & Morgan Freeman:
Sound:
The sound of sirens are cars in the background, before the film comes on screen, suggests that the film is set in a city.
Begins with no un-natural sound. No music or tones in the background. For some reason this builds up a lot of tension and is appropriate for this film.
In the next scene it begins immediately with the same background noises, but a man speaking, who we can assume is a police officer, from this we understand Morgan Freeman's character is a detective, not just a cop.
Mise en scene & lighting:
Morgan Freeman's character appears, doing the washing up, looking out the window. Dusky light filters through the window. It's morning.
He is doing basic things that ordinary people do, ie. buttoning his shirt up & cleaning up. This sets the scene and the little things emphasize the normality of the character, simply getting ready for work. He picks up a police badge, now the audience know he is in the police force.
Then it cuts immediately to the next scene, with a dead person, lying in a pool of blood. The audience gather that he is a detective.
Camera Angles:
Long shot of Morgan Freeman looking out the windown. The camera stays static as he walks towards the mirror.
Close up on his torso as he straightens his tie. The camera moves up revealing his face in a head shot.
Close up on his hands picking up his badge & gun et c.


SIXTH SENSE (1999) Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. (psychological thriller):
Starring Bruce Willis.
Sound:
Before the movie starts, in the black, a deep humming tone emits. Then a mysterious piece of music plays, for the movie production companies credits. The music builds to a climax at the starring casts names are revealed. A dramatic stab of music as the film title is shown.
When the movie begins, no non-diegetic sound is present.
Suddenly a crackle is heard from the other side of the room, making the woman jumpy.
Mise en scene & lighting:
A woman is seen through shelves or something in what appears to be a  basement. It's dark in there, but there is light forcing its way through cracks in the doors. Being female, alone & in a place such as a basement shows that she is already a vulnerable character.


Camera Angles:
To begin with mainly medium & head shots, then when the noise is heard, the camera comes from a grate or box in the corner of the basement, at a low angle, as if it were watching the female character. A close up of her feet, as she runs up the stairs.

Silence of the Lambs (1991) Directed by Jonothan Demme (Crime thriller):
Starring Jodie Foster & Anthony Hopkins.
Sound:
Non-diegetic sound. Violins.
Diegetic sound; her heavy breathing, fromt he assault course.
voice, spoken.

Mise en scene & lighting:
Woods, alone. Dark, vulnerable place to be, for a young female. Training, not as vulnerable as she may first seem. Strong & strong-willed.
Gray lighting, early morning time.
Male dominated environment.
Dayight/ early morning light.
Artificial lighting in the FBI building. Mostly naturalistic though.
Men wearing suits, relfects importance of their characters job.

Camera Angles:
Long & medium shots.