Why are some thriller openings good?

Why are some thriller openings good?

Goldeneye:

Goldeneye has a very good opening as it starts in the action. For example, it shows a man running across a dam. As well as that, as the amount of action increases, the pace of the editing speeds up. Furthermore, the opening of Goldeneye fits in with a lot of common thriller conventions. When Bond enters the complex, it is very dark with a lot of shadows on the walls. Also, the metal bars in one of the opening shots create straight shadows on the wall which is another thriller convention.

28 Days Later:

This film has a very good thriller opening. This is mostly because of the effective music that Boyle has chosen to include. The music used is chromatic, which gives the viewer a sense of impending doom, and that the character’s fate is inevitably going to be bad. As well as that, it is a good thriller opening because it creates an atmosphere of tension as the character is shown to be isolated and alone. Furthermore, as the audience is shown that there has been a zombie outbreak, the pace of the music gets faster which builds more tension.

The Departed:

The opening of this film is effective as a thriller opening because it starts off with self-shot footage which creates an atmosphere of realism. This means the audience can more easily relate. As well as that, Jack Nicholson’s voice is used as a voice over which gives the effect that he is all knowing and powerful, and that he will dictate this film.

Memento:

Memento has a very effective thriller opening as the audience knows what is going to happen to the man who gets shot. It also effective as it isn’t chronological which adds an element of mystery and tension. Furthermore, it is a good thriller opening as it creates tension. The fact that the character has short term memory loss is effective as it makes him a loose-cannon, which means that the audience will be surprised by his every move.