Se7en opening sequence

Se7en – opening sequence

Denotative details

Ø  Quick cut with lots of flashes,

Ø Everything is old fashioned,

Ø Disturbing photographs of people who are injured,

Ø Black and white writing with blurred edges,

Ø Non-diegetic sounds of screams and scratching,

Ø Lots of handwritten writing in the books,

Ø Lots of handwritten writing in the books,

Ø Fingers has plasters on the ends,

Ø Crossed out writing and images,

Ø Slow threading of the needle and the string has blood splattered on it,

Ø Lots of books,

Ø Pieces of hair placed carefully in the books,

Ø You don’t actually see the person

Connotative details

Ø The Quick cutting and flashing is used to show the fast paced action and to make the audience feel confused/ disorientated. Also the flashing may suggest that it is someone’s life flashing before them, so suggesting murder is prominent in the film.

Ø Everything being old fashioned suggested the character wants things kept the same and does not want change. This is also used in the setting as it looks like it is in an old fashioned cellar so it would be difficult for someone to escape which creates a trapped feeling.

Ø The disturbing images suggest the person likes this sort of thing and the film is about what he does to them.

Ø Black and white writing with blurred edges gives the feel of a horror movie because it suggests distortion.

Ø The non-diegetic sounds of screaming and scratching suggest that someone is in pain and wants to escape. It also suggests that the person is not where they are by their own will.

Ø The fact there is a lot of handwritten writing in the books suggests that the writer is passionate about what he is writing and wants people to know about it.

Ø The use of red connotes danger.

Ø The slow threading of the needle suggests precision while the blood in the string suggests pain and injury.

Ø The fact there are lots of books show the person is very passionate about what they write and has lots to talk about. This suggests that they has hurt/ murdered a lot of people.

Ø The pieces of hair create a weird feel, they make it seem like the person is obsessed with the person or is proud of the fact they have the hair.

Ø The fact you never see the person shows they are very important to the film but are hidden from the other characters knowledge. This suggests he is a murder.