kiss me deadly

Director- Robert Aldrich

Kiss me deadly

Genera-thriller

Opening sequence

The title of the film when and how does it appear on the screen?

The title is shown with in the beginning as there is an over the shoulder shot with lots of the title including the main title of the film, this shot is very effective as it creates an atmosphere and draws audience in to the film as it is an ambiguous title. It was shown with an effect rolling down the screen. It was a big bold white coloured “kiss me deadly” these are all good elements of a thriller opening as it drags on the titles and has a slow but effective opening to compose the start to lead on to the rest of the film and how it relates to the title.

When and how is the setting and location revealed to the viewer?

The setting and location is not shown or revealed in the beginning of the opening sequence of this film as it only shows close ups and mid shots and doesn’t really set a scene or a location. This is a good element of a thriller film as it makes the audience want to watch on a find out many questions they are thinking of, this is because by not showing clues of the plot it is a mystery that the audience want to find out. Also by using these close-ups it shows very detailed shots of characters or even main parts on a character that might relate to a scene in the film, close ups are very effective to show detail on characters or locations.

What costumes and props were used?

The costumes were very plain but very old fashioned and formal, which suggests to the audience that the film is an old fashioned film and it is not set for a young target audience. The props that were used were some extras of people acting in the background. The costumes set a mise en scene of the film as it shows that the situation that the woman is in as every one drives past with no care, this is effective as you feel for the woman and you just want someone to help her, and to find out what had happend to her.

What camera shots and editing were used in the opening?

The camera shots were very basic and straight to the point as it showed main aspects of a thriller opening with a ambiguity. To do this they used such camera shots as close up, of the woman’s face breathing dramatically which was composed very well as it made her seem out of breath and in need for help by the use of levels as well. Also a mid shot, and track shot were used at the beginning to introduce the titles and to give the opening more of a length and suspense.
The editing in the opening were just quick cuts transitions of the titles at the beginning showing who stars in it with a scroll effect coming down the screen this is again is effective as it makes the opening sequence longer and keeps audience in suspense because it doesn’t give obvious mise en scene.

The editing were just quick snappy cuts and with the titles at the beginning showing who stars in it with a scroll effect coming down the screen.

What titles and font styles were used?

The font style used were all the same as they were bold big white letters and very mysterious and were used in a good place of the film as the tracking shot is following the two shot of the people in the car. As the title is very vague audience want to find out why it is called that and find out what it has to do with the film. also the title of the film is different as the speech marks are on the wrong side of the title and it is back to front. Which gives mystery to the film.

How does it set the story up for the film in the opening?

The story is set up by a dilemma and a woman is breathing deeply and dramatically which keeps the audience thinking in dispense. Also the clothing sets up the story as the clothing is a big give away to what the film is going to be set out like. For instance the old clothing gives a basic sense of the reason for the girl breathing in panic as the mise en scene is old fashioned it will not be like a 2011 event but a general event that would happen in 2011.