Research and Planning Analysis to Se7en

Se7en Opening Analysis


Camera shot/Angle/Movement

Instantly it’s noticed that the opening scene consists of mainly extreme close-up shots of objects: books, images etc. that works like a montage.  A minute variety of angles are captured in this text, this manages to bewilder and make the audience uneasy as they are unaware of what is clearly happening. The eerie fast paced movement gives a suggestion to the films genre and content, this allows viewers to understand that this film will provoke a serious and peculiar tone to it. The camera shots used creates tension and anticipation as the assembly are uniformed of what this symbolises and who it involves. This also simultaneously intrigues the audience with such little detail it holds and puts them at a distance as longer shots aren’t used. All of the objects shown portray narrative clues. 

Sound

Non-diegetic music is in the background.  The pace is set as the music starts slowly and progresses rapidly and makes the scene become dark and creepy.  The music is gritty and reflects an overall disturbing tone to the film. Diegetic sound is heard e.g. the pages in the book that are turned and the cutting of the paper, this gives a naturalistic essence to the text. The camera movements used is hand held you can tell by the way things are shown; this gives the opening scene sense of realism and a naturalistic feel.  Screeching noises are heard, this could represent screams of victims.

Editing

The scratched handwriting and credits that twitch and flicker in and out of shots accentuate the disorderly and unsettling ambience.  The clips used are short and this controls the pace of the opening.  The scene consists of dissolve conversion and the editing used is fast-paced, which establishes disjointedness. A washed out texture effect is used and the general colour connotes no feeling, or kindness. The flashes of red symbolise violence and death.

Lighting

The artificial light used is dull and dim it’s mostly seen from the opening of doors and windows.  Many objects are also captured as hovering shadows.  Red light flashes in between cuts which represents; death, danger etc.

Narrative Plot

Hints are placed in the sequence to do with characterisation of what would seem to be the antagonist.  An extreme close-up is used to show the cutting out of the word ‘God’ from a dollar bill, its suggests that this antagonist may believe that he is God or be somewhat religious, this also coincides with the song lyrics used during the end voicing ‘closer to God’.

Mise en Scene

Various objects are laden out in the cuts of the scene. Books are shown with disturbing pictures propping up when the pages are turned. The distressing pictures that boldly show dead people symbolise the film’s themes, genre and highlight the sick and twisted mind of the ‘antagonist’. 

Genre

The elements of the images that are shown during the cuts display horrific images that unsettle viewers. The scratch writing and fast paced and dark atmosphere represent that film could be a hybrid of both a thriller and horror.

 Locations

This scene seems to be located in a closed in room (indoors) due to doors, windows and dimed light being shown. The tools and photos being developed in a red space suggests the persons profession and skills, heavy machinery is placed and implies a cold, empty space- possibly a basement or loft.

Characters

As an audience we are oblivious to any characters as they have not been shown. We do not know whether this character is an antagonist or protagonist although from the disturbing shots we know this is not of a ‘normal’ or ‘kind’ nature. We know this person is of great importance as he dominates the opening scene. The photographs could suggest a profession or hobby. Additionally, we do not know if the person is male or female.