Film Opening Analyses 7/1/09

Se7en - Crime Thriller


Se7en's opening credit sequences gives off very little information with regard to the story, despite a large number of shots. The credits are intercut with close-up shots of a person forming a scrapbook, cutting pictures and articles up. These are generally short shot durations, meaning little is given away, yet we are intrigued to find out what is happening. This is assisted by the use of selective focus in many shots, drawing our attention to specific elements of the frame. The credits are written in small, scrawled handwriting which represents the personal tone of the sequence, and the titles flicker like a failing lightbulb, complementing the eerie tone of the music. Throughout the sequence, the aforementioned music gradually builds in complexity, pace and volume, which is contrapuntal to the images on screen. This reflects the idea that the person is getting more involved with their work, and the crescendo in music draws more attention to this.