What's the purpose of a film's opening sequence?

The purpose of the opening sequence of a thriller is to determine the specific type of thriller, there are many sub-genres, which may include: Psychological, horror, crime, sci-fi and many more. The opening sequence of a thriller can easily do this by using sounds, images and editing techniques to set the scene and to create a specific atmosphere. Most thrillers are able to set the scene in the first opening sequence like in ‘The Dark Knight’. This film opens with a bank robbery that is being set up the character ‘The Joker’; the scene jumps straight into the action and introduces you to the main antagonist of the film. The character profile is also instantly introduced in the opening sequence of ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ , where the camera is used to follow the character Clarice Starling as she attempts an assault course. This creates the idea for the audience that this character is determined, hardworking and is dedicated to the activity of detecting and fighting criminals, particularly serial killers, for the FBI. The atmosphere of the film is also well introduced in this opening sequence, due to the foggy, eerie woods that this character is running through and the dramatic and slightly sinister music that is used. Another film, which uses the opening sequence successfully, is a James Bond film; ‘Skyfall’. It immediately jumps straight into the action and shows the audience everything they would expect from a Bond film. The character, James Bond is in a battle with a supposing enemy on top of a moving train. This scene shows great editing skills which consist of very quick shots which exaggerate the fast pace as well as showing all the action.


  Psycho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaaJ8vP5f0Q


Establishing the genre The thriller opening I have chosen to study in greater depth is the horror/psychological thriller, ‘Psycho’. This film soon establishes the genre in the title sequence (before the opening sequence) by using very high pitched, erratic music, which is very dramatic and sets the scene of this suspenseful film. When the opening sequence starts, the camera pans over the city whilst a slightly ominous score plays, it then gradually zooms slowly into an apartment window. The use of the filming technique, effectively establishes the genre because it may metaphorically symbolize a person watching the characters, linking back to the ominous music, which coincides with the zooming of the camera. The black and white of the film was chosen by Hitchcock in order to represent the idea that people have reciprocal personalities. Therefore the use of black and white is a way in which the characters of the film are established. There is a prominent atmosphere of uncertainty in what is going to happen in the film, it creates an atmosphere of importance and the idea of paying close attention. This is established by the slow start to the film, the long foreboding title sequence, which then leads on to the gradual pan and zoom, into the mysterious apartment window, shielded with a blind. The theme of the film that is established in the opening sequence conveys psychological undertones due to the eerie camera watching over the city and then into the apartment window of one of the main characters, Marion Crane. However, once the camera has cut into a shot of Marion’s bedroom, she appears laying on the bed in her underwear and skirt, whilst a male character, known as Sam Loomis is topless, standing over her. They then share moments of intimacy and affection, which may suggest this film, could have themes of love being portrayed. The setting of the film is almost immediately established by the quick, swipe of the sentence ‘ Phoenix, Arizona’ over the opening pan of the city. The text is then followed by ‘Friday, December the Eleventh’. The immediate establishment of the setting may suggest the location is important within the film because commonly in films, the directors do not so boldly state where the film is set within the opening sequence.