Friday, January 31, 2020

Title Research: Se7en

The second title sequence I watched was Se7en.

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
There are 27 title sequences in this movie.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
Images shown in this opening scene are of dead bodies, police reports, scattered newspaper articles and a razor blade.

What connotations do the images carry?
The images give the impression that this movie is going to be a bleak, psychological thriller that probably focuses on a murderer as evidenced by the police reports, classified dossiers, and pictures of corpses flashed around the title sequence.   

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
This genre of thriller, especially a murder mystery thriller, the notion that the serial killer is multiple steps ahead and always eluding the authorities is a common motif in these type of movies. It seems that every image that flashed before the screen has a symbolic meaning to it. The sequence where a person seems to be weaving a bunch of papers together with a needle, seems to be a calling card of the murderer.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
To show the narrative of this movie, the title sequence sprinkles in clues and evidence from the supposed murder case. In doing so, just the opening sequence tells a story, the background to what’s going to happen in the movie.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
Presumably, those who watch this movie are fans of thriller/mystery movies. To catch the audience’s attention, the title sequence depicts gruesome murders, interwoven between shots of someone cutting out newspapers and conducting research on the murders. This aesthetic of a grimy, ambiguous setting for the movie, intrigues the audience into watching.

How has technology been used effectively?
The editing in this title sequence consists of purposefully choppy edits; almost like a T.V losing signal effect in its transitions. The names of producers, actors, and staff are shown in creepy lettering and flashed before to the screen as to invoke an uneasiness. The whole sequence as a whole emotes the feeling of fright. 

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