EN: Analysis Of A Film Opening

Donnie Darko (2001, Kelly)

Genre

• Donnie Dark is a psychological horror as it follows main character Donnie Darko, a boy with a mental illness who receives visions through his imaginary friend Frank a Giant Rabbit. However there are also elements of a thriller within this film as there is a sense of mystery and influenced by literary devices such as tension. All these factors are represented in the opening scene as a divide and tension between Donnie and his family is established, and the fact that Donnie wakes up on a road in the middle of nowhere connotes great mystery.
• The audience’s expectations of a conventional horror/thriller film are ignored in this films opening. The conventional stereotype of the patriarchal male protagonist of either a “hard man” or “ordinary citizen”, is replaced in Donnie Darko, by a character that is abnormal, mentally unstable and morally ambiguous. Consequently this then hints that Donnie Darko draws themes for Film Noir to construct its genre.

The reason I chose Donnie Darko as a film to analyse is because I liked the way it combined character personification and mystery to create interest and engaging protagonist. I think it will be useful for our group in filming our own film opening for the use of character development.

Representation And Ideology

• There is a clear distinction between Donnie and the “normal” characters in the opening scene. Donnie who is considered abnormal through his mental illness is represented as aggressive, obscene and offensive. He is also represented as detached from human life, while his sister thought a conversation about university, is shown as the binary opposition to him.
• This opening treats this divide playfully, through humour. The character Donnie makes a joke which in the eyes of the other characters is deamed inappropiate, but can still be seem as humorous to the audience, which helps us relate to the protagonist. This injects a sense of irony as although the audience single Donnie out as wierd and different from us, the viewer can relate and engage with him.

Book Of Eli (2010, Hughes)

Film Language

• Mise-en-scene has a huge importance in this opening scene. Low key lighting is especially effective as it gives the sense of desolation and mystery, and when combined with Eli's dramatic gas mask inspired costume, it creates a sense of danger and immediate tells the viewer that it is of the post-apocalyptic thriller genre.
• The majority of the opening sequence is of just one camera shot that sweeps from the location to focus on the protagonist. This slow sweep and establishing shot connote a great feeling of anticipation that hightens the drama of the scene.
• Diagetic and non-diagetic sounds are also important as they anchor the images. The use of wind within the scene provides verisimilitude and the sound of the gas mask turned up in the mix makes in eerie. The non-diagetic sound of the quiet synth strings in a minor key add to the intensity of the presence of danger.

Media Audiences

• The Book Of Eli adopts most characteristics of a thriller film. Therefore I think it appeals to most of the core audience (12-29 year olds) and even the horror core audience (15-24 year olds). However when considering the age certificate and violent nature of the content, I think it mostly appeals to males between 15 and 24 years of age.
• Because of the ominous nature of the opening scene, there are many readings that can be absorbed by the viewer. The controversial element of a cat being killed for example, could be seen as cruel and even disgusting where to others this maybe acceptable. Also because of the fact that it is post-apocalyptic thriller, many could see the film as relevant and more engaging, because of the global warming, nuclear and resource releated problems which are real problems in our world today.

The Book Of Eli was a good opening to analyse as it captures an eerie and dramatic presence using low key lighting and set location. It will be especially useful to our group if we choose to film in a wooded area as we can learn to utilise light.

The Crazies (2010, Eisner)

Institutional Content

• Many of the target audience this film is trying to capture would come because of the stars involved. Radha Mitchell is a bankable star in the horror industry and has starred in other films such as Silent Hill and Timothy Olyphant who is famous for being starred in popular thriller films such as Hitman and Die Hard 4.0. These actors have been chosen as they appeal to both the horror cult fans and the more popular thriller films.

Narrative 

• The key narrative technique used in this opening sequence is that of dramatic irony. The fact that we see the future before the characters do, gives us th sense of building tension and anticipation. The narrative used also backs this effect up as each character is only concerned in their day to day buisness, blissfully unaware of the events unfolding.