Thriller Analysis 1

One of the thriller openings I have chosen to research is Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)



Rear Window's opening is similar to many other Hitchcock films in that it immediately starts with the titles. The tone is set up as deceptively cheerful, as light-hearted music is used throughout. The titles are in a white font with an orange outline, which has quite a positive connotation. Simple fades are used to transition between the different titles. The location behind the titles remains the same throughout and is that of a window with the camera on the inside. Initially, the blinds are closed, but as the titles progress, each blind raises, revealing an alleyway/courtyard. This image of the window links directly to the plot of the film and also piques the audience's interest into what is happening in the room the camera is in. As the weather is sunny outside and there is no immediate threat, it is a classic example of showing ordinary life that will later be disrupted. After the titles finish, the camera zooms into one of the windowpanes and the shot changes, through a simple cut, to what is happening outside. A high angle shot is used as a cat walks up some steps. The camera pans to follow the cat walking before tilting upwards. A man and woman are seen briefly on a balcony (the first people shown so far in the extract) as the camera pans across, showing the apartment windows. At the moment, the setting still seems innocent and there is no sign of any threat. The camera then pans back to the apartment it started in. However, this time, a sleeping man's face is shown, who is visibly sweating. This is the first element that hints at a thriller, as it adds a hint of mystery and the audience is likely to be interested about who this man is and why he is sweating. This is the start of the narrative, and thus the ending of the opening sequence.

Rear Window's opening, as with many other Hitchcock films and thriller films of the time, is innocuous and not easily categorised as being a thriller opening. The high-key naturalistic lighting, ordinary setting and jaunty music all help to provide a (false) sense of security for the audience. The ideas that I can take from this is that an innocent opening could be a good one to choose as it makes the thriller elements more dramatic when they are introduced.