Thriller Opening 5 - Donnie Darko - IZZY SOUTER

Donnie Darko

Camerawork

Extreme long shot showing man

·         There is an extreme long shot to begin with to show the character in the road, this builds suspense as the shot tracks in on the man and the audience is unsure what to expect.

·         The camera also circles the character which draws attention to him and it is clear from this that he is one of the leading roles.

·         There are no close ups in the opening which is unusual for a thriller opening.

Mise En Scene

Man in his pyjamas

·         The lighting is low key and
shows early morning
sunrise in the distance. This therefore makes most
things appear dark and is mostly silhouettes of objects such as the trees. This creates and eerie, mysterious atmosphere.

·         Due to that fact that setting is empty and desolate, with just a road and a mountain view it makes the character seem isolated and alone.

·         The man appears to be in his pyjamas, which suggests that he went on a bike ride over night, which arouses questions surrounding what he’s been up to.

Editing

P.o.v shot on the bike

·         The opening cut in one long
shot which tracks onto the man, this is used to show a clear emphasis on the character and that he has fallen off of his bike.

·         There is also a point of view
cut of the man on the bike on
the road which makes the audience feel connected with the man.

·         The cuts are limited to give the impression of a smooth and enjoyable bike ride and not to build tension.

Sound

·         There is gentle, melodic non-diagetic music, however you can still hear the sound of the birds which is emphasised to highlight the fact that it is early in the morning and also that he is alone.

·         There is no dialogue, therefore limited information is given away and this raises questions to the audience.