Latymer AS Thriller - Group 6 2006

This is the opening sequence to 'Exposure'

I enjoyed this sequence very much because it creates a high amount of tension and anxiety, which are key to a good thriller.

I think that editing is used effectively by including fast cuts and showing many insert shots. This pace matches the frantic movements of the character pictured and allows the audience to feel the tension of the character. I think that this is greatly helped by the choice to use purely diagetic sound in the first half. This makes the sound of the characters footsteps, the rustle of bags and the character's heavy breaths stand out a lot more than they normally would.

With these two factors combined with the fast action create the feeling that he is running from something, being followed but also high levels of and tension. It feels as though whatever he is fleeing from is about to appear and so the audience is on the edge of their seats. This is because the fast cuts make the viewer try and watch out for clues that appear in shot, but the shots quickly fly past them and so it is felt that something vital may have been missed and that they are in for something unexpected. I think the best example of this is when he is in the bathroom and washing his face. The camera focuses mainly on the cabinet and the characters reflection in it. This framing is typically seen in thrillers and horror-thrillers where a killer or monster suddenly appears in the reflection. This scenario is registered in the audiences mind and so they are in the suspense of whether anything will appear and experiencing the shock it created in past experiences, again.

I feel that the second half of the sequence, when he walks towards the room, is somewhat of an anti climax, although it does tell more of the story and shows the use of some excellent imagery. In my opinion it varies from the first half too much by having a change of colour from black and white to sepia and a slower pace. I find this confusing because the character has gone from frantically collecting his belongings into a bag, to slowly walking into a room and carefully picking out a picture off of the wall. To me erases the feeling of danger that was set up previously and causes me to think that it wasn't necessary for him to be running so urgently in the first place.

Overall, I think that this opening sequence is successful because it has a well picked choice of shots, fast paced and frantic action sequences and some high quality imagery.