Opening Sequence for Se7en - Kynan

Se7en is about a murderer who kills people for their sins.
 - Lust - Gluttony - Greed - Sloth - Wrath - Envy - Pride
One person is killed for each sin, according to what sin they have committed. The reason this film was so successful as a thriller, is because of how it builds tension. There are 7 people who the killer has already targeted, once a murder has been committed, the killer has to be even more careful, as now the police are trying to solve the murder, however as more kills happen, and the police find the link between the kills, it becomes a race to see if the killer can complete his mission, or if the police can save that extra citizen.

This opening credits shows how well this film can build up tension, it starts off fairly ordinary, with a book, however the writing over the top of the book to show the credits with the writing as a harsh white compared to the black backgrounds. It then proceeds with the same type of writing throughout the opening credits, only with increasingly more disturbing images in the background.
Soon is becomes obvious that it is the kill you are watching, with images flashing up of distorted bodies, or other images.
Special effects, like when he is writing, you see double vision, makes the killer seem psychotic, which is slightly disturbing as it means the killer would be that much harder to predict.
Sound is not loud, but because it is quiet, it emphasizes how brutal some of the images are.
The camera work used, always hides most of the killer, only giving away the smallest hint of who he is; showing only his fingers.
Props include things like books, pages of messy hand writing, which shows that he has done his research and is a calculated killer, other props include distorted images of bodies, or hands that look as if they have been tortured. Some images, for example a normal picture of the face, which the killer gets a permanent marker, and cross out his eyes, which then cuts to the same picture but the whole face is scribbled out, this might show someone who has been killed.

All four of these micro elements are used and blended effectively, to create an opening sequence which gets the viewer interested in what will happen in the film, while also promising a good thriller.