Analysis of the Opening Sequence of Se7en

Pre-Opening Sequence: Se7en


The opening sequence starts with a close up of a book being opened and slightly to the right is the titles of "NEW LINE CINEMA". The titles are displayed in a scratchy kind of font this is used to be a connotation to the theme of the film which is a psychological thriller. Also there is a creepy type of non diegetic music which creates a eerie atmosphere leading the audience on to continue to watch the opening of the film and to make it feel like you were being watched. The book may be a symbol of the antagonists knowledge on how he does his work. It then dips into black which symbolizes death and mystery which creates questions for the audience to guess what the film is about, and again the scratchy titles are used to create the scary feel to the sequence. We then see the killers finger tips being shaven off these reveals the connotation of his manipulative nature to how he knows that if their are no prints at the crime scenes the killer cannot be traced. After we then see some sort of notebook, this prop could of been used to show that the killer keeps track of what he does and how he does the psychopathic jobs. Through the sequence their is changes in the pictures of different photos of people but they seem blurry which is a connotation of not everything is what it seems which links in to the eerie music. The main title of the film "Se7en" is repeated shown in its scratchy context and it moves like it played on the old film reals this could symbolize the date of the film it was created and give the film that scary, unsettled feel.
The movie begins with the medium close up shot of William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman) from behind, first off we see the 'pure', dull colour scheme which indicates an image of his lifestyle. After making a coffee he pours it down the drain this shows a stereotypical view on a man living alone, we can also see this by the colour scheme and how women usually brighten up the place and children create mess and clutter, but we can see a few toys on his living room side?. We also see that everything in his house is organised, this creates the stereotype of cleanliness of a 'alone' single man.