Film Opening Analysis

Scream (1996)

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven, starring David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, etc.

The movie follows highschool student Sidney Prescott, and her friend group, who become the targets of a mysterious killer in a Halloween costume known as Ghostface. The movie was inspired by a real-life case of the Gainesville Ripper. The movie was well-received and commercially successful, making $173 million globally and topping all previous slasher movies until the release of Halloween (2018).

Scream was also famous for its iconic opening scene, which is considered to be the best compared to other Scream movies in the franchise.

Here is an analysis of the opening scene of Scream 1996.

Genre: Horror/thriller

Conventions: This opening scene is a perfect example/representation of horror/thriller. It's a very fast pacing opening scene as we got right into the killing and the face the mysterious murderer right away, which helps raising the adrenaline of viewers. There were blood, knive, and very bloody scenes, the most provoking thing is the fact that the viewers don't know who this scary killer is.

Analysis:

The initial scene shows Casey  reaching down to pick up a ringing phone as the camera pans up to her. The voice that has become recognizable from horror movies talks to the blonde. By depicting the girl as being alone in the large, remote home, Wes Craven sets the scene. When the camera pans outside, there is complete stillness save for the crickets' chirping, emphasizing the girl's isolation. The audience is in suspense because they don't know who is outside as the camera pans down to a swing that is empty but still moving barely.

The interior of the home is brightly lit, standing in stark contrast to the darkness outside. This contrast is similar to that between the evil outside and the good-hearted blonde girl in E.T. She becomes even more vulnerable in the gloom. Making popcorn adds to the scene by making loud popping noises that make you jump inside the home. The phone rings once more; in the past minute and ten seconds, there have been three calls. The same man's voice can be heard as Casey circles a kitchen island to take up the phone. Close-up shots of Casey are used to show how the conversation turns flirtatious as she begins chatting with the guy on the phone. This is a technique Craven employs throughout the movie, particularly later on with Sidney, the main character, to entice the viewer into becoming emotionally invested with the character through these close-up shots. 

Mise-en-scene is used to hint at potentially evil events that will occur. When Casey takes a large kitchen knife out of its block and talks to the killer about the movie Halloween, Craven uses the iconography of a knife to make the viewer feel uneasy. The crowd becomes anxious as they wait for what will happen next. Another tracking shot blocks part of the view as it follows Casey from behind as she enters the living room and proceeds down a dim corridor. I've used this obstruction method in my own surveillance filming because it leaves the viewer wondering what's going on. The TV screen and the outdoor bathing pool are just two examples of the next scene's heavy use of the color blue.

Blue is typically thought to promote serenity. The disruption starts as soon as Casey enters the blue lighting, and you realize the caller has more in mind than just a simple discussion. When Casey inquires as to his motivation, he replies that he wants to know who he is staring at. Casey's worried expression abruptly comes into focus as some soft percussion music starts to play and get louder. Additionally, you can hear a canine barking outside, which leads you to believe that someone is outside. On the close-up of Casey, subdued lighting is used to emphasize the look of fear on her face.

The location and costumes are essential to the story because they establish the horror genre and add tension to the picture. Casey feels helpless because the murderer mentions that her home is kilometers from any other residence. The spectral visage A Halloween costume is also represented in the imagery because it appears repeatedly in the movie. The audience can tell that it is a scary movie by these obvious short hands. After Steve has been killed, the killer breaks into the home for the first time, and we first see him. As Casey moves toward a side entrance, a POV shot moves slowly in the opposite direction. Until the killer in a mask runs past on the other side of the building, there is no music at this time. To frighten you, a brief burst of high-pitched music is played. By making it outside, Casey gives the impression that she is secure. A distant shot of her parents' vehicle then helps the viewer understand this. At the window, a very close-up shot that clearly demonstrates the mask appears as she attempts to flee. The crowd screams in response to Casey's scream. Casey sprints in the direction of her parents' approaching vehicle. The crowd is now on the verge of yelling at the screen, hoping Casey manages to escape. She is unnoticed as a shot of her parents' vehicle passes by.

Jaws (1975)

There is a distinct sequence of events that occur one after another in Jaws' opening sequence since it is linear and chronological. The dialogue between people and the unfolding circumstances serve as the driving force behind this story. There are three distinct sections in this scene: the beginning, the middle, and the end. Both the beginning and the finish of the introduction return to equilibrium; everything is quiet and pleasant. This is effective because a major event has already happened in the first two minutes, leaving the viewer wondering what else is in store. The audience is immediately shocked and drawn in by the dramatic opening scene. In the first scene of Jaws, young people are portrayed negatively as being reckless and irresponsible due to their behavior and the environment they are in. When the shark attack occurs, the audience is left with a vague sense of shame because of their audience's quick dislike of them.

The tension-filled music, the victim being a woman, and the other character (a man) who might be able to help her not realizing anything is amiss are just a few of the classic thriller cliches present in Jaws. Due to the perspective being from the viewpoint of the shark, but never actually seeing the shark, this scene is a key part of Enigma. This incomplete vision is a typical thriller convention that contributes to the development of suspense and tension by instilling a sense of dread of the unknown. Another thriller convention is convert city, in which a safe setting is changed into a dangerous one. The beach in Jaws transforms from a scene that first seems relatively safe and welcoming into one that is quite hazardous, making the viewer more alarmed.

Mise en scene:

Underwater, the illumination is dim and the colors are chilling, which highlights the sense of danger. The entire time, the mood is the same—dark, gloomy, and neutral—suggesting that the character has no hope. The girl's action of taking off her clothes has no apparent significance, but it could be symbolic because it implies that doing so tears away her defenses, leaving her defenseless. This movie would not be as frightful if it were in broad daylight since it would be evident what would happen and hence too unrealistic. The dark atmosphere is a standard cliché of the thriller genre. The music starts and ends at equilibrium, much like the plot.

Camera:

Additionally, the use of camera angles to frighten viewers and create tension and suspense is particularly successful. In order to build tension because it is unclear who or what is in the water, a point of view shot is used in the opening sequence. Following this, a tracking shot is used to follow the actors as they race toward the beach from various perspectives. This does a good job of setting up both the characters and the audience's environment. A wide-angled long take of the water is utilized as an establishing shot once the girl starts to swim, emphasizing her isolation and inspiring terror in the audience.

Editing:

When the girl is attacked by the shark, the use of and the tempo of editing dramatically slow down, with shots staying longer rather than having several different shots. In contrast to having several distinct shots, this enables us to observe what is occurring to the girl above water and makes it more apparent. The audience is horrified by the transition from blurry eyesight to clear vision, which creates an almost terrible climax. Because of how slowly the editing is moving, it seems that a shark is going to attack, grabbing the audience's complete attention. Additionally, the editing enhances the transition between scenes. There are cuts between the man dozing on the beach and the girl who is being attacked.