Opening Sequence - Previous Thrillers

THE STEPFATHER




I thought this scene was very good. It had good continuity and a large range of shots, whilst also creating enigma and a basic plot.
The sequence involved cross-cutting, with the opening half of the shots mostly dedicated to the little girl, and the second half involving a man. The final part of the scene is when the two characters meet, therefore confirming that they have a relationship.
Enigma is created extremely well in this scene. For example, we do not know anything about either character depicted until the very end of the sequence, but even then, we do not know the extent of their realtionship, although the title of the film seems to suggest he is the girl's stepfather. We do not know what has happened to the mother, why the girl is sitting next to a lake, and why the man is looking out of his window.
There is a very good use of mise-en-scene in the sequence. The opening shot, a dripping tap shot in a deep red light, is very effective in connoting blood and tension due to the anticipation of the water dropping. The domestic utensils shown with the male connote the family lifestyle that the film will show; in particular he is seen chooping vegetables, with the knife connoting violence. He is later seen washing his hands, as if washing his hands of his sins perhaps.
The range of shots is probably the best aspect of this sequence. There are over-the-shoulder shots, POV shots, and frames within frames, for example when the man takes the frying pan from a cupboard, or when he takes a jar from a shelf. The range of shots helps to keep the audience entertained, but as there is no speech until the last 30seconds of the clip, it helps to maintain tension.
The titles are also shown on blank screens, after each shot. The black on white connotes good vs. evil, and it also makes them stand out more.
The music used is very succesful also in creating tension and fear. Long, high notes are used by a string section, although it sounds extremely distorted, almost like scraping metal. The sound made when a finger goes round the edge of a glass is also used to create enigma and fear as it sounds very distorted and eerie. A few piano notes are used to create rhythm and also create a metronome effect, as the note used are ina cycle of sorts, almost likea trance, again creating a suspenceful and unnatural atmosphere.