Analysing Sound and Music in Thriller Opening Sequence

Panic Room


At the beginning it starts in silence and it doesn't pick up the music till 0.21 seconds this is the non diagetic music as only we the audience can hear. The music playing is very dark with the music picking up the speed as it goes on, this is describing the film as during the film the girl starts to panic as she need her Insulin and the music in the Opening Sequence has the sound of the Insulin Pen clicking and getting faster as the music gets faster. At 0.51 the title of the film comes up ‘Panic Room’ right after this is shown at 0.55 that is when the clicking of the insulin Pen comes in also at the time Kristen Stuarts name comes up, who is the actress who plays Sarah (the girl who has diabetes) this builds up tension already for the audience. In this opening Sequence there is also Diagetic sounds of car going past, as it is set in the city. This is ambient sound at 0.41 Narration Dialogue comes in this ends at 1.51 when the opening sequence starts.  


Catch me if you can


The sound in the Opening sequence starts at 0.02 seconds; it starts with wooden blocks and percussion instruments, this makes it sounds like it is very sly and sneaky. This represents the films as it’s about the F.B.I. At 0.43 the title of the film comes in, this is where more instruments come in such as the saxophone this then builds up more tension as more instruments are used and the music is a lot faster. All of these sounds where non diagetic and had an upbeat vibe throughout the sequence.  This clip is a parallel Sequence as the music goes with what is going on in the clip.


Se7en


The opening Sequence sounds start straight away, Diagetic sound is used during this with the sound of paper cuttings and the screaming girl. There was so many sounds thrown together, but they all worked well as they all had the same effect, as they where all dark sounds that makes you feel on edge.  There is also Non diagetic Music playing in the background as you watch what the guy is doing, the music is very fierce so you know he is antagonist straight away within the first 20 seconds of watching the clip. This clip is a parallel Sequence as the music goes with what is going on in the clip. The title comes up at 0.23 as there is a screeching noise of a chalk board which is how the title ‘se7en’ is written.  

Simularities between the three Opening Sequences:

• they where all parallel they all match what is going on in the scene 
• in all the Opening Sequences they all opened with music whcih got faster and it added suspense and more tension.
• All use instrument soundtracks and all use ambiant sounds.

Differences between the three Opening Sequences:

• Se7en and Panic room they use Diagetic and Non-Diagetic, whereas IN Catch Me If You Can only uses Non- diagetic sounds.
• Panic room had a very long silence. as for the other two they just went straight in to the soundtrack.