Modern thriller openings

Modern thriller openings are presented in different ways however they use similar techniques. We have analysed a few modern thrillers openings and how they were effective.

A history of violence - This film starts off on a hot summers day, this setting makes it seem as if everything is still calm this gives an effect that everything is calm and it nothing is yet to come. However they still do not know what is unexpected that is yet to come. This is soon to be presented when two men walk into a room where there is blood on the floor and there are dead bodies laying in their own blood. This adds alot of suspense as audience are left to think why and how the bodies got there and who killed them. The slow movement in the character in the film builds up tension and curiousity as the audience try to gather where the mysterious dead bodies came from. Afterwards we see a small child who is looking frightened get murdered, the audience feel sympathetic and confused as to why the little girl was murdered.



No Country for old men - this thriller has an unexplained of the murder which raises questions to the audience as to why the murders are taking place. The weapon in the opening is a canister this suggests that the weapon respresents the killing of the people. The opening of this film sets a good suspense which is very key in gaining the audience's attention for them to watch on.  





Zodiac - this film starts off with a conversation between two characters, one of the men suggests to go to a more quiet spot, this may raise questions in the audience's minds as to why one of the characters has suggested to go to a more quiet location. As they are walking they are shouted at by a car saying 'fuck off and die' this is very random to the men and the audience however this could portray that danger is yet to come. 




Brick - The opening of this film is a boy who is next to a dead body, the use of non-diegetic music in the opening creates a very thriller like suspensive feel. The audience also feel truamatised as it is a young boy who is next to a dead body, the audience are likely to feel sympathy for this boy. The opening of the film is very disturbing and automatically creates a dark them affect for the audience.