Sub - Genre Opening Sequence analysis- Inception

Psychological Thriller: Inception                           

Running time of opening sequence: 2.00 minutes

This opening sequence makes use of the following generic opening sequence conventions:

Induction to the character type: 

In the beginning of this sequence using a fade in the audience is introduced to a man (protagonist) who has been pushed up to shore using a panning shot and is predominantly in and out of consciousness, bleeding and has been hurt pretty bad shown with a close up. Then the antagonist is introduced with him minions running around him and greeting and talking to him with much respect. this shows this character has status, power and something that poses a threat to the protagonist when his men drag him in.
   

Induction to theme tune: The opening sequence opens with a strong, high horn of some sort is blown sound and as the scene comes onto the screen it creates a tense atmosphere before the audience have seen anything, but a contrapuntal sound of waves crashing and children laughing juxterposes the two sounds making the audience edgy as they don't know what to expect. 

Induction of place/location: The main male character was pushed up onto the shore by waves and through an eyeline match  was approached by a soldier who was speaking Japananese so the audience are aware that the location is Tokyo. 

Enigma: From the very start questions are asked as nothing is revealed with the first 2 minutes of the clip. The audience want to ask why is he there, how did he get there, why does he have a gun and a spinning top? what significance does the spinning to have? who is the antagonist? why is the protagonist is that state? etc.

Information on genre: The genre is unclear within the first 2 minutes as not much is given away. But towards the end of the 2 minute clip the audience comes to hear the antagonist talk about a half remembered dream. As most psychological thrillers are emotionally or mentally violent the audience picks up small hints at this point of psychological thriller.

This opening sequence makes use of the following sub-genre-conventions:

Mis-en-scene:

Lighting- natural lighting when the scene starts on the beach, but as the protagonist enters the antagonists domain, the lighting becomes artificial dim and dark.

Costume- the protagonist is wet, when he comes onto the shore, this clothes are worn out and torn, compared to the antagonist who is dressed formally in a suit with 

Body language- cold vibes are given off both characters but tension is in the atmosphere. 

Editing:

Long shot duration- conversation between the antagonist and the protagonist, and also when protagonist in on the beach the audience is show all his surroundings and setting the scene. 

Transition- the movement from the children playing on the beach to the scene inside across the big table in a very traditional Japanese surrounding. 

Sound:

Dialogue- very limited dialogue but conversation between the two main characters starts to create a small picture despite the fact its very vague. 

Non-diagetic sound- the ambient music Japanese music in the antagonists environment gives him a sense of power and authority as the tension between them builds up

Camerawork:

Two shot- when the guard shouts out to someone within the house there is a two shot between the two guards and then back to the man on the ground.

Establishing shot- at the beginning of the scene the beach setting sets the scene, the Japanese structure on the cliff shows where the next scene will occur, then the jump to the scene on the plane changes, there is constant transition throughout the first 2 minutes.