Analysis of Thriller Openings - Speed

Mise-en-Scene

• The film opens with the camera tracking downwards and we can see it is set in the elevator shaft of rather large building which suggests to us the is set in a large city.

• The camera stops and we see the title speed in from the side which suggest the film will be frantic and chaotic.

• The lighting in the opening of the film is very limited due to the fact that it is set in an elevator shaft.

Camera angles, shots and movement

• In the opening of Speed there are not really any camera angles shots and movement because for the first three minutes the camera tracks downwards like and elevator.

• The opening is in one shot which means there are no cuts, this gives us a sense of enigma and suspense and therefore from watching the

opening we learn that the film is an action/thriller.

Sound• The music starts off very slow and melancholy which

creates a sense of enigma. From this we automatically assume that the film is a thriller.

• The music picks up when we see the title ‘Speed’ and from here the music is very upbeat and fast. After listening to the music we can detect that the film is more of an action thriller as we don’t sense the enigma we felt during the first 30 seconds.

Text and Font• The font used for the titles and credits is blue. It is a special

font which makes the writing 3D.

• The same text and font is used throughout the opening of the film.

• The colour of the font also gives a sense of a enigma and mystery for example if the text was pink, it wouldn’t have the same effect.

Atmosphere• From watching the opening the atmosphere of the film seems

dark and somber due to the dim lighting and the dark elevator shaft, we get a sense that something bad is about to happen because of the tense music and darkness.