Analysing the introduction to Se7en.

The first thing we see in the film is what we assume to be our main protagonist (simply because he’s

the first character we see and for a length of time) in his bed while muffled conversations and noise

from a room next door plays over what the viewer would connote to silence and peace - bed. This

representation through sound can instantly tell the viewer that this character is disturbed and/or has

problems with his current situation which is sure to carry throughout the film. We can see his

frustration through how the character removes his glasses and pauses doing nothing. This acting

represents how the character is fed up with things as they are going and instantly hints at a huge

potential flaw in the protagonist. The frustration presented is also represented in how the viewer is

purposefully shown the calm, orderly setting which is well lit through the wide shot chosen,

contrasted against the disruptive noise. Other than this, slightly more obvious things are presented

to the audience instantly in his apartment. Use of props l ike full book shelves, traditional bedframe

and lights; as well as no advanced technology like a television but a framed picture above his head

indicates an aged, intellectual character to the audience.

Around 20 seconds into the scene we see a mid/long shot from the end of Somerset’s bed which

slowly zooms in a little amount to show time passing alongside Somerset’s attempts to sleep. This

shot along, with the slow editing pace, show how time feels longer when trying to sleep and how

this effecting Somerset presented in Morgan Freeman’s acting of heavily scrunched eyes and a

rolling head. In the next shot all the noise except the ticking of the metronome cuts out to give the

metronome purpose. By doing this, the purpose created is that Somerset is trying to focus on the

metronome in almost a hypnotic way to fade out the noise of the party next door. We next see a

mid-shot of Somerset again awake, rolling his head but this time, the background noise has kicked

back in. This not only shows that the noise is, in fact, still here, but it also shows the viewer how the

noise is effecting him on a psychological level. By rolling his head it presents the noise as distressing

him. This shot also emphases the role of the metronome further by juxtaposing what he’s tryi ng to

achieve (the previous shot) and reality (the current shot). We then return again to the close up of

the metronome with the ambient noise cut out to show how the situation continues despite his

efforts.

This scene can be seen as a microcosm for his l ife situation as he is surrounded by noise and

disruption that he then tries to move away from by focusing on and distracting himself with the calm

rhythmic, slow ‘tic’ of the metronome. This is later applied when the audience discovers his desire to move away from the city and quit the force.

The next scene (the opening titles) begin from a fade transition from the previous scene. The

pervious scene finishes abruptly from the metronome. The sense of drama in this transition is in that

the viewer feels that one last ‘tic’ should bridge the transition however, we are left with silence

momentarily before the contrasting titles music kicks in.

The opening titles use a hand written and stencil type font which flickers and moves to create a

sense of unease for the viewer while they are reading the information. The titles are assisted by very

fast paced editing contrasting to the previous scene, possibly showing what’s to come in the film.

The fast paced, uneasy tone sets up the hard viewing for the rest of the fil m. It prepares the viewer

for the themes of the film, especially the disturbing visuals of repetitive close up shots of some of

the killer’s activities, for example cutting of his finger prints. The irregular beats of the music also

creates even more of an uncomfortable feeling for the audience. This feeling is created to instantly

pull the audience in to the film as, even if no fast paced action follows this sequence, the viewer will

be able to understand that exciting, key conventions of the thriller genre will build in the film from these short, hard to process clips and rigid, hand written font.