Other Films Analysis

As well as analysing 'The Secret Window' we felt we should analyse 2 other films, I have decided to analyse the films 'Psycho' and 'Hit and Run' because both films use similar ideas to what we are using, Hit and Run as our film has a similar car accident and Psycho had an opening scene by Saul Bass and we feel that we could produce an opening with similar techniques for our film as not only do they create tension but they add a bit of flair to the piece. 

Pshyco

The Screen fades from the paramount pictures logo, to black then a harsh grey tone, jumpy erratic music plays, the tempo increases as black lines streak from right to left across the screen, until the screen is all black and the Name Alfred Hitchcocks is revealed on screen in a sharp bright white, the music becomes more frantic as violin strings are added and grey lines sweep in along with more black lines, to show the name of the film PSHYCO again in a harsh white colour, the word starts distorting in the middle in a creepy manner building tension and unease, grey lines sweep up and down away from the centre pulling the title away, more lines dart from bottom to top hauling the name Anthony Perkins, then more lines return and split the name apart and pull it away, Segments of word drop on screen to create an enigma, Whose name? Why? To answer this more segments transcend to accompany the word, they join forming the name “Vera Miles” he same happens again but this time the name is “John Gavin” silky cello tenors wail on scene creating tension and an uneasy atmosphere (a typical convention of almost all thrillers) lines glide in from the sides pulling in the words Co Starring Martin Balsam John McIntire these vanish and more lines from a multitude of directions jump in bring in more actors names his repeats but with other names until the name Alfred Hitchcocks appears once more, this jumps and distorts slightly creating tension then the music slowly dies off and the grey fades into a sepia tone establishing shot of a (then) contemporary 1960’s city in America.

I chose to analyse this piece as it was created by Saul Bass, a man whose opening scenes have changed film opening sequences forever, (for example James Bond, Oceans 11 and Casino) also we were contending using a similar style opening for ours. Particularly as his openings are quite fast and energetic, we particularly liked the style of music used.

Hit and Run (Trailer)

The usual producer logo shows this time it’s the roaring Metro Goldwyn Mayer Lion, rock music sound bridges on to a red lit room (connoting sleaze) with close up of 2 shots of vodka, the word A SPRING Break appears amongst a montage of shots featuring people drinking and partying, SHE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER glides on screen then fades to a shot of a man and woman by a car, a close up of his face is shown as he asks “are you sure its safe to drive?” she replies “yeah, sure its fine”

A montage of driving shots follows featuring pans and tracking shots of the pair in this red pick up truck gallivanting around in the dark, then a dark monochromatic long shot of the truck slamming its brakes as it ploughs closer and closer to a dark human figure, the music stops and the sound of Heavy breathing can be heard, the screen flashes brightly with shots of the trucks lights and the words SHE MAY NEVER ESCAPE appear on screen then it goes dark.

(monochromatic lights, digitally amplified sound and colours were used to add tension and are common traits of thrillers)

Film Title of Psycho

Film Title of Hit and Run

I chose to analyse this opening/ trailer as it featured a car accident like our films intended one, we plan to use a similar technique.
Such as the opening credits of our film, we adopted his style of names floating and disappearing off screen














DVD Analysis


I also analysed the cover of a DVD of the film Alone, to gain some knowledge of how thriller films are marketed after cinema release. I decided to look at the use of typography and colour and their connotations on the cover.

Drab colours such as grey, red, black and sepia tone are used and suggest that this film is dark and violent like most (nearly all) horror films, they denote violence, shifty goings on and create atmosphere.

DVD Cover Of "Alone"

It uses Serif white scruffy text denotes the possibility that this film is violent and complicated with various twists and contortions in the tale.