thriller openings

LIMITLESS - 2011

LIGHTING & COMPOSTION:

• High key, bright white lighting.
• Flashing TV lights on close-up face at 0:12 keeps up fast pace and intensity.

CAMERA SHOTS & ANGLES:

• Camera moves in and out of focus reflecting characters confusion.
• A lot of short clips edited together for a fast pace.
• Close-up shot at 0:12 is intense.
• Camera jerky to show confusion and keep a fast pace.
• Variety of shots such as mid-shot, two shot and long shots confuses viewer.
• Camera moves in and out of slow and fast motion so viewer can see the fight better and to keep the fast pace up.

INCEPTION - 2010

LIGHTING & COMPOSITION:

• Natural lighting.
• Outside lighting means shadow is cast across where characters are seated.

CAMERA SHOTS & ANGLES:

• Close-up on coffee mug at 0:54 gives intensity, along with the close-up shots on the characters' faces.
• Reverse angle shot at 0:47 show expressions.
• Two shots showing both characters.
• Uses 180 degree rule.
• During explosions the camera moves in and out of slow/fast motion to emphasise dream-like effect that the characters are in.

DRIVE - 2011

AUDIENCE & SOUND:

• Upbeat music - 80s.
• Retro 80s titles, bright pink colour.
• City sets 80s time period.
• Shifty character, shown by lighting and shadows, he's out late at night and his body language.

LIGHTING & COLOUR:

• Dark, low-key lighting.
• Bright city lights in extended long shot at the beginning, contrasting with dark night.
• Shadows moving across character's face as he drives is mysterious.
• Shadow cast on wall at 1:49 is a silouette is more mysterious.
• The hallway lights at 1:28 act as spotlights to show the other character as important.

COLLATERAL - 2004

AUDIENCE & SOUND:

• Airport sound bridge.
• Lots of people out of focus showing they are irrelevant to the story, 2 characters are only ones in cameras focus so attention is drawn to them.
• Sounds made by these 2 characters are enhances so we hear everything they do.
• Constant beat builds up suspense.
• From 1:03 a lot of odd camera angles, short edit also help build suspense.
• The sound is in the point of view of the cab driver, dramatic when he's inside the cab there is no sound.

LIGHTING & COLOUR:

• Bright high-key lighting in airport.
• Natural lighting later on in cab, vibrant colour of cabs in close-ups (reds and yellows).

TAXI DRIVER - 1976

AUDIENCE & SOUND:

• Red on Black writing - dramatic.
• Car appearing through the smoke is dramatic and mysterious.
• Your don't see the driver in the first clip as he drives past, even more mysterious.
• Urban and mysterious mood.
• No religion, no family.
• Tells us all about character in a natural way, so movie still flows.

LIGHTING & COLOUR:

• Lighting colours changing on close-up.
• Different coloured blurred light, sense of nothing being definitive.