Opening Sequence analysis to "Seven"

As I have commenced my duty in regards to gathering research and for-filling my task ; I have explicitly chosen to analysis the opening title sequence to a film that practically defined the thriller genre to this generation of cinephiles "Seven" is my first piece of research.

A film that is directed by David Fincher; a film-maker who has truly mastered the craft of shaping a thriller that perfectly embodies conventions expected from the genre such as building suspense and tension through both visual imagery and sound that reflect the emotions and characteristics the story acquires in order to embody the form of thriller that the director intended which is in fact a "crime thriller".

The opening to the film has been stylised to be in the form of a title sequence that contains various frames displaying graphic and disturbing imagery ultimately making for an effective opening sequence to a film of the thriller genre.

The title sequence is remarkable in the way in which it captivates and engages the audience's attention through the effective visuals within the sequence with the inclusion of none-diegetic sounds that really help play as a benefactor in regards to teasing a dark and gritty yet thrilling story.

The non-digetic sound included within the sequence beautifully blends with the visuals casted besides the musical track due to the profound nature of the music bestowing this eerie and sinister vibe towards the sequence causing the audience to perceive from the tone emitting from the visuals but primarily supported with the soundtrack; this film will indeed be have very dark and unsettling story that will of course thrill you beyond your expectation. The music achieves this through the use of metallic sounds which are produced by the consistent sound of the high-hat of a bass drum in in addition to the digitally created sounds in order to create a feeling of distortion and insanity.

The way in which the director has chosen to shoot these images is effective due to the nature and meaning conveyed by the symbolism within the frame; primarily is due to the fact that most of the shots are framed with an "extreme close up" of a particular object which in addition the film-maker has enhanced the audience's focus on the images presented to them by playing with the depth of field of the shot. The effects of this technique is to draw the audience's attention away from anything within the sequence that my deprive them of their attention towards the shot but to focus their attention on a certain object such as the book in the shot within the sequence. This tests the audience's ability to depict meaning and symbolism from the object in order for them to retrieve information in regards to the story; ultimately testing and preparing the audience for the psychological and thrilling story awaiting to be told after the opening title sequence has introduced valued and insightful information in regards to how in fact the director may choose to tell his story. Another way in which the editor has contributed to the concept is through the editing and pacing of the sequence; due to the vast pace of the sequence causing the audience to witness brief but memorable glimpses of these disturbing contents allowing the audience to not only further test their ability to remember details that may be need within the story but to justify that the overall tone and feel of the film's story will rely the gritty and dark nature of the crime. 

The gritty and dark nature of the story is also teased in the opening of the film through the cinematography of the sequence.
Through the inclusion of few dark colours connotes the idea of discomfort and evil due to the murky look in which the film-makers has delivered to the audience. This was important to note due to the idea that audiences naturally infer indexical meanings associate with colours depicted from the shot. Therefore this was intriguing to me simply because it established that they're many aspect of within the frame must be planned thoroughly in order to ensure that the audience are not misinterpreting any aspects of the opening to our opening sequence.  

In regards to the way in which the director has chosen to consistently use "extreme close ups" for the entire sequence is remarkably compelling due to the ideas surrounding the use of this particular shot type and the impact it must have in relation to the audience's psychological response to this.

The way this shot type has been used throughout this opening sequence draws the allusion of a obscure form of intimacy due to the close proximity in which these shot are taken which may reflect the audience's feelings discomforted and uneasy about the detail they are able to witness from these disturbing images.

Ultimately this is an effective opening due to the fact that it achieves its purpose in regards to teasing the audience on what to expect from the story and convey the overall tone and ideas to later further elaborate throughout the duration of the film.

The analysis of the opening of this film was very helpful in regards to my research due to the fact that it has informed me on technical aspects associated with the film-making process such as camera movement,framing,editing and sound must all be executed in the specific way in order to achieve the type of thriller you wish to deliver; overall this provided me with a insightful look in the many ways in which an opening to a film of the thriller genre can be executed. 

I look forward to analysing opening sequences to other films and understanding the ways in which those directors have chosen to execute their take on the thriller genre.