The Opening Sequence to Seven

Thriller Conventions used in the Opening Sequence of Seven


The opening sequence for the film Seven directed by Kyle Cooper uses various methods to portray a sense of unease and fear to the audience including editing, mise-en-scene and the sounds used within the opening.

Throughout the opening of Copper’s Seven, the audience views footage which has become broken up by the change in camera positing and perhaps most importantly the credits which give the sequence a disjointed feeling. Whilst in other thrillers where it is in the wishes of the director to settle the audience down at the beginning of the film and thereby lull them into a false sense of security the opening of Seven is, I believe, something that is made to shock and frighten, something that is supplied even by the titles. Although they appear on screen for a very short amount of time they are jolted and shaken or are made to flash in and out of appearance very quickly creating something that unsettles especially when they are punctured by the music which underlies the scene and the sounds of people screaming. Also the footage itself has been highly edited in a way to disturb with fast cuts, sometimes so that you cannot quite make out the previous image show and other edits, some of which provide a ghost trail effect. An example of this is in shots showing the movement of the character’s hand and a later shot where a page of a book is being turned. Other examples of editing in this sequence are the overlapping shots, sometimes several at a time, the change of focus, especially at the begging where the hand is out of focus and the shots where the picture is broken up which again provides a disturbing disjointed feel. The sequence of shots can also be noted here in the fact that from the pages of a book at the begging the images have progressed to images such as someone obscuring the picture of a man’s face as well as other violent things, all of which bring a sense of fear to the audience.

Another method used within the opening sequence of Copper’s Seven to instill fear and discomfort into the audience is mise-en-scene. I greatly believe that the images chosen for the opening sequence were meant to disturb but the first few shots, especially when smell, mechanical items in shot extreme close ups are used making it difficult to make out exactly what the objects are. Items that are used frequently within this sequence are books, either to show highlighted words, collected photographs or an unknown individual’s writing which is in close shots always shown upside down so it is difficult for the audience to read. Reels of film photographs, and drawings of human features are also used to a great extent which may show the person’s past or intended victims, all of these things I feel help Copper to provide the desired reaction in an audience.

A third method used within the opening sequence to Copper’s Seven to create a sense of fear and unease is the sound used. Throughout the opening the same background music is played and it is made up of a series of various instruments and sounds, electrical or otherwise and also of different beats which sound as though they are purposely made so as to create a steady rhythm thereby adding to the disjointed effect which has been maintained throughout the opening. The sounds of typing are also used in this section giving the impression that the person is working towards something which becomes something twisted and unnerving when combined with the images shown. Also as mentioned before the scene is punctured in places with the sounds of people screaming which shows pain producing the desired effect.

In conclusion I believe that the opening sequence of Copper’s Seven has been desired to instill fear into an audience and this it dose effectively using such methods as editing, mise-en scene and sound within the sequence.