Film Openings

Objectives: To explore the concept of genre through an analysis of 3 film openings.

Genre defines Mise-en-scene.

"Dawn of the Dead" (2004) directed by Zack Snyder.

Re-imagining of George Romero

Horror - Zombie
Doctor looking at the X-Ray of a skull, foreshadowing death. The Doctor is seen to be "better" than the nurse foreshadowing the character's journey. Sets her up to be the underdog, she doesn't realise her potential. Slight attitude foreshadowing her survivor instinct.
The hospital is a sickly green colour.
Nurse gets home in typical suburbia. The average suburban American.
Nurse stops and speaks to a little girl, the girl is in the film for a reason, and she’ll come into the film later.
Music builds suspense.
Bite sent man to the ICU, showing that something is wrong foreshadowing there's a problem.
News saying about infection on the radio but she changes the station, she misses all the signs.
There's a news flash but the Nurse and her husband miss it. They miss all the warnings.
Girl from before kills the Nurse's husband.
His blood is bright red and the husband's white t-shirt emphasis on the red, making it look brighter and stand out more.

"Cabin Fever" (2002) directed by Eli Roth

The name Cabin Fever foreshadows location.
Horror
Hooks on the letters of the credits
White background all nice with birds singing in the background, gradually getting dirtier, yellow signifying infection then blood. Bird song turning into flies. Death, blood.
Slasher music building suspense.
Location straight away, isolated.
Dead rabbit, (hooked) sound of chains and dead dog.
When man gets splattered with dog's blood he gets infected.
Infection.
Cuts straight to an All-American girl. Archetypal.


"Taken" (2008) directed by Pierre Morel

The title foreshadows something getting taken from someone.

Home video of a little girl's birthday, showing a happy family and a happy environment. She's central to the film and to the main character's life.
Cuts to a man alone, everything grey and dull, precise.
Girl's new step-father out-doing her real father (Liam Neeson)
When the girl gets her present she likes it but then forgets about it when she gets a better one.
His friends want him to do a job, says no one will get killed but this foreshadows the fact that they will.