Emma Phillips Foundation Production

A thriller opening generally starts with non-diegetic music that emphasises the atmosphere that wishes to be portrayed towards the reader. This music will use crescendo or get faster-paced as it gets closer to the bad event happening- all in an attempt to increase tension and make the film seem more realistic and involve the viewer more. During this time, credits stating information such as the film title, lead actors and directors may also appear against either a still or moving image of the setting the movie is taking place in. For example, in "Ragged Edge" the first credit appears against a still going from day to night against the Golden Gate Bridge, San Fransisco. The mise-en-scene at this point may contain poetic fallacy to the forethcoming event, such as a thunder storm at night time, using greys and blacks to emphasise the gloomy event coming.

An event may also occur during the first couple of minutes of the film opening, leaving the rest of the film open to explain who committed the offence, how, and why they did it. This means the narrative is not in chronological order and the plot may include flashbacks or disjointed time. During this event, the victim will appear helpless and vunerable, possibly sleeping before being disturbed by the culprit- which will be shown by reaction shots and high/low angle shots from either persons perspective.



The culprit themselves will remain unidentifiable, with no frame being on their face but instead on different body parts or shots from the back of them looking forward.



The thriller film itself will mainly aim to put forward a darker side of life, that aims to disturb the viewer and keep them on the edge of their seats, as well as distorting reality and showing the difference between normalcy vs the unexpected.