Analysis of Se7en’s Title

SequenceElleah Stanton

Distributor: New Line Cinema

The sequence begins with a close up of a book filled with blank paper. The shot shows someone

turning the pages slowly. At first, one might say that this would connote an academic profession,

however when this shot and the prop is matched with the dark, gloomy lighting, it suggests

otherwise. The dark lighting shows that this character is looking through the book in the dark and

therefore signifies that this character could have some kind of obsession. The tattered edges and

the way the book is put together also shows that its not academic and that it is possibly handmade

again showing an obsession or a hobby. Having watched the film we know that this book is the

beginning of John Doe’s diary, however at this point in the sequence the audience is unaware of this

fact and therefore wants to discover who this character is and why they are looking through a blank

book in the darkness. The non-diegetic sound that accompanies this shot sounds like the shooting of

a gun in the distance which brings a more sinister tone. Then a scratchy repetitive sound is played

which connotes danger and creates tension.

Then arrives the beginning of the title credits. The creators of this

sequence decided to handwrite part of the credit and use the

Helvetica font for the other part. The sketchy and sharp font tells the

audience that the film could be of the thriller/horror genre. The text

also glitches and shifts around the same spot repeatedly. This could

signify some kind of disorder that makes someone fidgety and

paranoid.

The next shot is a close up shot of a drawing of a distorted pair of hands that

have been stuck down with yellowing tape.

This represents how John Doe is obsessive

with his passion for killing in strange ways.

The distorted hands resemble his tendency

to murdering in psychotic ways which

therefore confirms to the audience that the

film is a horror/thriller.

This shot is then followed by swift extreme

close ups of various metal objects which at

first glance look very sharp and connote

experimentation. They are also iconographic

of psychotic murders and the horror genre.

It tells the audience that the character who

is handling the tools are of a psychotic

tendency and could reveal that the

character shown is the main antagonist.

The extreme close up makes the viewer

concentrate on the sharp, intricate parts of

the metal which emphasizes the sinister

idea of brutal and detailed killings.

The next shot is another extreme close

up of a teabag being gently dipped into

a cup of water. This connotes relaxation

and leisurely activities; it also signifies

that the character is comfortable, as

their movements are slow and calm.

When placed after the previous shots of

quite sinister ideas it gives the audience

a small sense of disorientation.

Afterwards comes an extremely short

shot of a photograph of someone who

has been tortured in a monstrous

way; it almost flashes on the screen.

This is iconographic of psychopathic

ideas such as torture for amusement.

The viewer is then returned to the

shot of the tea bag being lifted out of

the tea. The fact that this mental shot

has been placed in the middle of such

a normal action signifies that the

character is completely comfortable

with the morbid side of life: maybe

even enjoys it.

All of the shots used in this title sequence are

either close up shots or extreme close up shots.

They are used to create tension and a personal

insight into the life of this psychopathic

murderer. This is a technique that I will not be

adapting for my own work as this would mean

that I wouldn’t get high marks as I have to use a

wide range of camera shots.

With regards to editing, here the shot is repeated

over the top of it’s self. The effect used here is

called ‘ghosting’ and it signifies the idea that this

character may be insane as it disorientates the

viewer. It could connote a medical condition with

regards to mental illness.

Afterwards a shot of the paper he was

writing on is shown. The prop is covered

in very obsessive writing as it covers the

whole page and looks like a continual

stream of words. This again works on the

idea that this character is captivated by

the torture of humans.

Shots of these diaries

with streams of writing

are a common

occurrence throughout

the title sequence. This

tells the audience that

they are a large part of

the narrative and makes

the viewer wonder what

significance they have in

the plot.

The hands that are repeatedly shown are all bandages

up. They also look rough and dry which signifies that he

may not take his health and cleanliness into

consideration. This idea of a psychopath is therefore

exacerbated as it shows he is so concentrated on his

passion for murdering and torturing. The bandages look

dirty and over-worn signifying that they haven’t been

changed in a while, again showing he does not care for

his own health. It could even suggest he is so involved

with his obsession that he removes himself from reality

and focuses soully on his murderous goals.

The music that accompanies

these shots is extremely sharp

and high pitched. It is almost

uncomfortable for the viewer to

hear which gives a sense of

disorientation and disgust which

prepares them for the ghoulish

themes within the film.

Parts of the track sound like

sounds a mechanical tool would

make. For example the sound of

a rattling chain being pulled

through something connotes

torture and links to the traditional

means of torturing. The sounds

are stereotypical of the

horror/thriller genre.

Various shots of the

character crossing out parts

of a text signify that he is

planning something, or

researching into something.

When these shots are

accompanied with the rest

that I have analysed, is

signifies that the character is

melodic and careful with his

murdering. He appears to

planning something as then,

a shot of a picture of a

human face being crossed

out is shown, which suggests

that what he was doing to the

text was planning for what he

will do to his victims.

Various grotesque images of humans being tortured in a variety of different ways

reveals his experimental nature. These disturbing images aim to unnerve the

viewer as they cringe at the idea of it happening to themselves.

The Audience This film/title sequence is clearly

aimed at people who like horror films. This group of people is generally teenagers 16 years old to adults 30 years old. To be more specific, people who find the idea of mental instability interesting will find this film intriguing as it appears to look at the mind behind the lunatic.

It is also aimed at people who can stomach gore and violence, however not to the point of being so comfortable with it that the film doesn’t have any emotional effect on them. The aim of the gore is to shock the viewer.

With regards to social groups that

are represented within the title

sequence, the only social group

that is shown is a serial killer. It

looks at the intentions and the mind

of a sadist serial killer.

In the film, another social group

represented is detectives and the

police force as it follows their

pursuit of capturing John Doe.

Social Groups

This film is distributed by New Line Cinema