Thriller opening analysis - Fargo

Fargo (Coen & Coen, 1996) is a cult classic film directed by notorious production siblings, The Coen brothers. It came to critical renown due to its quirky and mysterious characters aswell as witty dialogue which accompanies the film's serious moments perfectly. 
 

The film starts with a short disclaimer to tell the viewer that the events which occur in the film are based on true events. Whether or not this is true, it adds a certain edge to the film, making the plot all the more shocking as it has been told 'exactly as it occured'. The characters become more mysterious because the film makes us question their motives as real people. It also sets the scene, stating that the film is set in Minnesota in 1987, nine years prior to the release of the movie in cinemas.

The music which accompanies this message is that of a string instrument such as a harp, mandolin or guitar. It is calming, which is unexpected for a thriller film. When the scene changes at 0:30 the music adds a string instrument but continues the same tune, adding more tension to the scene. The establishing shot, despite not showing anything visible shows a light blue colour which creates a cold atmosphere. This is reinforced by the small black credits which can be seen towards the bottom of the frame, implying that isolation is a key theme in the film, making the viewer feel more alone. 

 The film continues to be a blank light blue space until a car becomes visible from over a hill at 1:51. At this point the music changes and drums accompany the strings, creating a more intense and foreboding atmosphere. The sudden introduction of drums shocks the viewer and will increase their heart rate, thrilling them. 

 

The appearance of the car raises questions for the viewer which they will want to be answered later on in the film which makes them want to watch on.This fits with Barthes narrative enigmas theory which often makes appearances in both Thrillers and opening sequences. The intriuged viewers will watch on to find that in many cases, their questions aren't answered but now the film is over, they can't go back. 

 

After the car passes we see the title of the film fade in. It is all in capitals emphasizing its importance and once again it is spaced out, making it look solitary juxtaposed against the light coloured background. The slow fade out of the title could reflect the slow pace of the film and also the mystery. The shot shows the car continuing to drive pulling another car behind it, adding to the barrage of questions the audience already has, such as 'what caused the car accident?' The snowy setting makes the two cars stand out thoroughly and also shows the audience the area that the film is set in. Cold, isolated settings have a tendency to reflect their atmosphere on the audience, making them feel slightly unnerved and disassociated from the world outside. 

 

The scene looks almost painting-like, with mostly white accented by the outline of the dark wooden pylons and the distant trees. The location seems very lonely and solitary, the perfect location for a thriller and to entice viewers into continuing the film. With no dialogue or view of the main characters, the opening scene of Fargo leaves lots to the imagination, hence why it is such a good opening scene. 

The opening credits of the film are displayed as follows:

Polygram filmed entertainment presents

in association with working title films

Frances Mcdormand

William H. Macy

Steve Buscemi

Harve Presnell

Peter Stormare

FARGO

Thriller opening analysis - Silence of The Lambs

Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme,1991) is perhaps one of the most iconic and commonly known thriller films of all time. Based on the novel by Thomas Harris it brought onto our screens the notorious villain, Hannibal Lecter portrayed by Anthony Hopkins.



The opening sequence begins with a fade into a shot of a leafless tree. The establishing shot of the woods creates a sense of eeriness which is to be expected with thriller films. The audience can see trees and branches which establishes the setting as a forest. Forests and woods are typical settings for thrillers because they have a sense of vulnerability and unpredictability. The audience doesn't know what to expect from the first shot. This is accompanied then by a small caption in white writing reading 'Woods near Quantico, VA'.

Then, the credits begin, displayed in a large bold font. The font is black with white outlining and it looks official, almost police-like. The first credit reads 'A strong heart/Demme production' giving credit to the production company and the director. The next credit starts the list of actors and actresses names, and begins with the most important character, the protagonist played by Jodie Foster. This font is much larger and all in capitals which gives the viewer the sense that it is an important name. the white and black is also juxtaposed against the dull, grey background filled with trees, once again emphasizing the importance of the titles and creating an uncomforting atmosphere.

The camera begins to tilt down as the credits are displayed. The very slow movement of the camera adds tension and unnerves the audience, making them want to watch more. The credits are displayed as followed.

Jodie Foster

Anthony Hopkins

Scott Glenn

Then at 0:59 after these three credits the title of the film is displayed in the same bold and solitary font. The title lingers on the screen for longer than the credits did, it stays in the centre of the screen until 1:04

After the title disappears, the camera continues to tilt and we can see a character climbing up a rope which is attached to the ground. This character is climbing in the centre of the screen, coming directly towards the camera. The image of the character gets clearer as she gets closer to the camera and when she reaches the top of the hill there is a brief moment in which she stays in shot and appears out of breath. Upon first impressions, it appears as though this woman is running away from somebody, she is heavily-breathing, sweaty and running aimlessly through the trees. This generates questions about the plot and intrigues the audience, whilst also being often shown in thrillers, a chase scene. The next shot is a dolly following the running character from behind, whilst the credits of actor's names continue. 

The forest is filled with mist, and we see the character running into it at 1:48, adding to the creepy atmosphere provided by the forest setting. It could also reflect the plot of the film, that this main character is going into the unknown, perhaps out of her depth. The camera also cuts between dolly shots and handheld camera, making the view of the character more blurred and creating a sense of panic or excitement. This allows the viewer to see what it is like from the character's point of view running through the forest. 

 

Many questions are raised about this character. She has a look of vindiction but also exhaustion on her face. From further analysis the viewer can see she is wearing training clothes, making you wonder whether she is being chased or if she is running for fitness or training, but the implication of mild panic in the scene still manages to unnerve the viewer. This is also achieved by the non diegetic string music which can be heard over the video. The music at the start of the scene is lower, with minimal instruments. If this is contrasted with the end of the scene the music has gradually grown more layered and higher notes are played on the string instruments, commonly used to make the viewer feel uncomfortable. The music becomes more orchestral, slowly increasing the tension the viewer feels whilst watching. 

 

At 2:24 the character encounters a man-built obstacle, which could be identified as used in training programmes, which confirms the suspicions that she is not being chased but is running for fitness and training. This could be seen as metaphorical for her experience within the film - She will encounter many obstacles which are hard to overcome. 

 

A low angle shot is used to show the character climbing the obstacle which enhances the percieved size of the climbing wall. This emphasizes this character's strength and persistence, because she conquers it very quickly which could imply she is well trained and has done this particular course many times.

The credits after Scott Glenn are as follows:

Ted Levine

Anthony Heald

Brooke Smith

Diane Baker

Kasi Lemmons

Charles Napier

Tracey Walter

Roger Corman

Ron Vawter

Danny Darst

Frankie Faison

Paul Lazar

Dan Butler

Chris Isaak