Analysis of a Thriller Film

Se7en

The first sound heard in the film is the low rumbles and a siren of traffic outside. This is used to give the audience an idea of where the film is located. Also, the siren of a police car represents the nature of the film and how it is about Crime. The opening credits is loud, low pitched music, giving a threatening sense to it.

The music of the title allows the audience to know that the film is dark in nature. Properties such as blade has been used to show that it could be also a violent movie. This is mostly important to represent in the opening of the film due to the audience understanding that the rest of the film will be as dark as this. A big reason of representing this message is the mise-en-scene because in the first scene with detective Summerset preparing for work allows the audience to understand Summerset. This is shown through Summersets well-groomed clothes already laid out on his bed neatly similar to his pen, his badge and his penknife. The mise-en-scene used in the opening of the film is mainly to illustrate how Summerset is more intelligent, experienced, and organised than Mills although Mills is more relaxed and believes he can do well which is shown through his cocky attitude. Summerset's apartment is clean and tidy as we see when he is preparing for work and in the scene where he rests in bed unlike Mills' untidy apartment, which is seen later.

A long shot of Summerset’ room as been used to show what his room looks like. Looking at the opening sequence, lot of low angle shots are used on the main characters. Another shot that is used quite regularly is a long shot, this is so that the audience get to see the surroundings of the characters and so they know the setting of the scene. It also allows the audience to understand about where the characters are and helps them get an idea of the period of time it is set in. There are lots of jumpy shots being used at the end of the opening sequence, this gives effect because it makes the audience a little confused about the situation but it also gives a slight insight into what will happen at the end of the movie.