Silent retreat opening analysis

Silent retreat opening analysis

Camera

Starts with a close up on a sleeping woman in a car. this then switches to an establishing shot then pans to follow the car. As the car speeds along the road the setting is shown. As it is a forest it instantly causes tension in the audience as this is a typical thriller/horror movie setting. Moreover as the leaves are red it connotes blood and danger creating an atmosphere of tension. The setting then switches to a lake in the woods which connotes drowning. Moreover as the font used is white and blurs in and does not keep still it makes viewers uncomfortable. Also it uses quick cuts between images and starts to quickly increase the light intensity and decrease it. This creeps out viewers and as the forest is in the sun set it suggests danger as the sky is red. Then switches to an ink blotch and abandoned bathroom which suggests murder keeping viewers drawn in. Then the screen flashes red which tell viewers a murder will take place in the woods. Th close up on the moss covered log could mean the murdered victim could have been buried and the close ups on the eyes are to make the viewers uncomfortable. The camera has scratches on the lens making viewers believe it is old.

Sound

It starts with quite music and a little amount of musical instruments. This makes all viewers anticipate the next move in the movie keeping them all drawn in. As the music slowly builds up it mirrors the tension in the room and the creepy pictures. This music carries on throughout and this is the only sound heard throughout the whole opening sequence. This makes the audience uncomfortable but drawn in from the start to the end of the opening sequence. The lack of music makes the audience more focused on what is happening and as what is happening will make them uncomfortable the lack of music adds this effect.

Editing
The quick cut shots make the viewers very uneasy as it isn't reassuring in anyway and makes the wonder as to what could have happen if the image did not change. This helps to keep the audience intrigued with the film making it a useful thriller convention. Furthermore the changing light intensity confuses the audience and makes the concentrate more on the details in the opening. Also the black and white at the end made the opening look  old and creep just like the scratches on the lens of the camera which suggested danger.

Typography

As all the writing is in white and important names are bold. This is important as it gives obvious credit to those who took part in helping the film become what it is. However as it is white it suggests purity and makes you feel safe but this juxtaposes the genre of the film as it is a horror thriller. This makes the audience feel  safe for a moment but this is then tossed aside and replaced with fear and confusion. This is useful as it helps draw the audience into the genre and is a great example of how typography effects an audience.