Mise en scene of a thriller opening sequence

Thriller opening sequence analysis

In the opening sequence of ‘Where Birds Don’t Fly’, a bible quote from 1 Peter 5:8 is shown in the frame against a black background quoted ‘Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.’ This instantly highlights the significance of this quote as it is clearly going to be a teaching that is used as a key theme to follow throughout the movie, not only that but it is going to be a thriller with religious motives of both the protagonist and antagonist, the antagonist being the devil devouring people and the protagonist being the person who must be alert and seek out the devil.

Next, it shows a dispute between two officers over who goes into the crime scene first. This shot is filmed as a close-up of both officers’ faces to show the tension of the dispute, as one officer speaks of someone being a child, potentially the first victim. This instantly exposes a weakness of one of the officers and already foreshadows that he may let his guard down, not be vigilant and will end up letting the protagonist devour his mind by exposing this weakness. A low pitch humming sound is used as the first officer comes back into the car, to make evident that he has just left the crime scene, paired with a dazed look on his face to show that he has just left the crime scene, the sound cuts off when the car door shuts.

Following the dispute, the use of non-diegetic sound is introduced to ease in the tense atmosphere typically done in thriller movies, especially crime thrillers. It’s a low pitch humming that crescendos louder as the officer approaches the house, to show that he’s about to see the serial killer’s calling card. The scene is instantly set in California, in the Ruiz residence which is shown as text on the screen, with a time showing it as 8:15 AM, which gives some sequencing to the plot which means the film will cut ahead to later dates and times as the film progresses. In the frame, a mid-shot of two officers is shown, as a POV shot of the protagonist approaching the scene, as they look pitifully upon him handing him a foam mask to wear optionally to mask the smell.

This film follows the common convention of a slow start to a thriller, but regardless of the slow start to the film it actually crams in a lot of information to show the methods of the killer, the natures of the two protagonists and how their lives, personalities and techniques as police officers contrast. Neither are put in a higher position of power with SFX, camerawork and Mise en Scene as they wear the same costume, have the same dazed expression on their face in the crime scene, the low pitch humming is used for both during their experiences of the crime scene. This represents a feeling of reliability, as they will have to rely on each other and work as a team, as partners to conclude this case and catch the antagonist.