• At the beginning of the clip the camera follows the blood dripping; suggesting the film may be gory or gruesome

• The camera follows two male characters in a two-shot, perhaps showing how they could be significant to the plot of the film

• We get an establishing shot of an American town, highlighting to the audience how all the key characters live in this area

• The camera follows a girl around her room in a close up shot; showing how she will be one of the main characters in the film

• We get an over the shoulder shot of a drawing of a professor, also showing how he will contribute to the plot

• The camera follows a guy around the room, again showing he is an important character

• We then get a 3-shot of the two girls and the male character in a window showing how 3 of our 5 main characters have already been introduced in the opening

• The colour red plays a significant part in the opening of the film; as this colour connotes danger, hints to the audience that the plot could put the main characters in dangerous positions

• We see a young girl in little clothing, showing how she is not a shy character and highlighting how maybe when everyone else shies away from the danger, she will be the one to step forward

• The male character is playing with an American football, emphasising how he is the typical American jock-type or perhaps that he is quite childish

• The sound in the opening is an instrumental piece which is very mysterious and puts the audience on edge, hinting the film may be filled with scenes which also put the audience on edge or make them feel uncomfortable

• We hear a conversation taking place in the office between two male characters, maybe showing how these two characters could be significant to the plot

• The font in the opening is fairly small and fade in and out in various places on the screen, this could show how throughout the film, unexpected things could happen which could be small but could have big impacts

• From the camera following the blood, the camera cuts to an office scene, showing how the office will be a significant setting in the film and maybe the turning point of the plot

• The title is placed over the action in huge writing which takes up the screen, making it the most important and central aspect the audience see and remember

• The camera cuts in a conversation between two girls using the 180 degree rule, showing their reactions during their conversation whilst making the conversation seem continuous and again highlighting how they will be significant to the plot

The film opening shows the thriller conventions by:• showing an extraordinary

event happening in an ordinary situation, whereby five characters find themselves threatened when they visit a cabin

• Mise-en-scene which highlights the key theme of the film

• It tells us a previous incident where a professor has slept with a student, and this is expected by the viewer to be resolved somewhere within the plot

• Has a complex narrative structure as it cuts from different characters and settings, making it confusing for the audience to work out who they are meant to be focussing on; who is good and who is bad? Leaving the audience on edge wondering who is who

Overall, the opening of the film ‘The Cabin In The Woods’ has aspects which make it effective in showing the thriller conventions, however, it is not developed enough to show the full potential of the thriller conventions.

It leaves the audience unsure on who the characters are and does not reflect the title.

Apart from the beginning when we see the blood on screen, there is no huge signs to show this film is a thriller and does not show many of the conventions.

It is also hard as an audience member to concentrate on any one thing as there are so many characters and settings introduced.