The definition of a thriller is: “a novel, play, or film with an exciting plot, typically involving crime or espionage”.
The opening sequence of the film has many similarities to this definition, the similarities are shown through the use of sound, camera, mise-en-scène, and editing. In this analysis I will be showing how the technical codes of the film help us understand the genre, thriller, and narrative of the film.
From the beginning we are introduced to loud, tense non-diegetic music, when this is combined with the cold dark blue background of the opening credits it creates this effect of mystery and informs the viewers that there will be crime involved. This effect of coldness in then literally carried on to the first shot of the film, which is a scene of a mountain range with a blanket of snow covering everything. However this coldness is contrasted with warm, slow diegetic piano music. The scene then continues with use of warm colours from a flame within the cabin, and cuts to a close up of the (who we assume to be) protagonist, and a female companion sitting next to said flame. The camera then cuts to a wide shot of the cabin, revealing the female is naked. The use of these effects and visuals is to build up a sense of comfort and safety, but because the viewer knows there is action in the film, it generates a belying atmosphere.
The scene moves on to the couple, the next morning, walking out in the snow to take a walk. There is a heavy use of medium, and ultra-wide shots, to emphasise how alone they are. The medium shot are used to help focus on the couple talking to each other, but the ultra-wide shots are used to show how alone they are by showing just them walking in the snow surrounded by forest and a snow covered open field. They stop walking as she noticed there are two pairs of footsteps walking towards the forest. She suggested they were hunters, but she also mentioned they don’t usually hunt in pairs. The camera does a panning eyeline match between the footsteps and the protagonists head. That slow drag of the camera moving from his face to the footsteps show to us he has a thinking process, and as a result creates a tense anticipating build-up effect to the viewers.
The action begins there being no non diegetic sound being played creating a tense build up, he starts to run and shouts “come on” to the partner and rushes with her behind a rock. Two gun shots are then heard to show the viewers the threat is real, the camera is positioned at a medium shot towards their shoulders to give an effect of concealment; all these factors are traits of an action- thriller film. The scene then continues with an exchange of bullets and the protagonist then kills the assassin. The protagonist then kills the female companion, which adds to the crime aspect of thrillers and adds some gore too.
The scene continues, to show second assassin sitting in a car, looking in the mirrors and then emerging out. The camera is positioned at a low angle to show the assassin as large and powerful, in addition, it even shows a close up of his hands clocking the gun, to add to his delusional power. The reason it is delusional is because a few second after, the protagonist comes out of nowhere by surprise and kills the assassin before he could even lift his arm, again linking back to the crime aspect of an action-thriller film.
I was not able to find the specific scene described above, so instead i provided the trailer for the film:
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