Reviewing 'Hysteria'

In our lesson, we watched some of the last years thriller openings and i have chosen to give analytical feedback on 'Hysteria'.

The titles were presented in a standard font, in white, on a black background. this is done to make it look ordinary because the focus isn't really on the names. On the black background, there is out of focus lights moving across as though it is a torch searching for something, or someone! This is a good mood setter as it immediatly implies a dark, scary theme in the first few seconds.

I thought that the variety of shots used in this opening was very good and there are a few specific ones i'd like to analyse. They chose to use a high angled shot where the camera was in the top corner of the room, giving the impression that they are being watched or are on CCTV. The idea of never being alone or being watched is common in thriller films and this idea was used well. I think that this group may have over complicated things a bit when they used a watermarked extreme close up of the characters eyes on top of another shot. When she takes out the rubbish, there is a really nice low angle shot from in the bushes, used, again to give the idea of being watched or stalked.

As a whole piece, I wasn't certain that it was a thriller film, just because there seemed to be a lot of action happening and this is more a characteristic of a slasher or horror film. They did, however, use classic thriller techniques, as in there were a lot of still shots and this wasn't too complicated, but the storyline gave off the feeling of other genres. Something that added to the feeling of a thriller film, was the music. There was a lot of non-diajetic, orchestral music playing which set the atmosphere and made me feel tense. There was also diajetic bangs and crashes which made me jump and kept me engaged.

The last thing i noticed, was the mise-en-scene. I liked the use of lighting, especially when she went outside because the lights were from the house, making her sillhouted. The torch beam was also effective, but it seemed that she found it on a washing line which confused me! The fact that it was dark added to the atmosphere and made it feel 'thrillery' contrasting to the red costume, used to represent danger.

Overall, i enjoyed this opening, but thought that it could have been more thrillery and that if they were organised then they could have foun a way to pick up the torch before leaving the house, rather that finding it on a washing line!!