Insomnia opening sequence analysis – a visual essay
- 2. This still of the opening sequence shows an example of the title graphics. Here we see that the titles have been edited to fade in and out, this effect may have been deliberate to reflect the genre of the film; Insomnia is a thriller and mystery and suspense are key characteristics of thriller genres, the fading effect blurs away the letters and makes them difficult to see which links to the idea of not knowing all the facts in a mystery. The title has also been edited to contrast fully with the white background. The choice of simplicity may have been done this way so that little was revealed about the film, maintaining the mystery and leaving the audience eager to learn more about the film
- 3. Here we see an extreme close up on a carpet or cloth which has a drop of blood on it. The close up is so extreme it is almost as if the audience is seeing the image through a microscope. The editor may have chosen to do it this way to symbolise that the film will require the audience or the protagonist to investigate deeper and further for clues and to understand what has happened. The title has been edited to fade in and out against this background to illustrate that the film is about mystery or an enigma that has to be solved. The fact that blood is visible in the opening sequence suggests that later in the film explicit injury may happen.
- 4. The opening sequence sets a mood of loneliness and solitude with the use of an empty, white landscape which visibly goes on for miles when a helicopter flies over it in the scene. The landscape is not only bland and empty; it is also icy, building on the mood of solitude. It conveys the idea of cold and fear sets the theme of suspense for the rest of the film.
- 5. In this shot we see a character whose identity is kept a secret by not exposing his face in the scene; this clearly creates a sense of suspense and mystery for the film and keeps the audience engaged and eager to learn more about the character. The character sitting appears to be rubbing a cloth or other object which is not made clear to the audience; again building a mood of mystery and suspense for the film. Furthermore, notice how the camera does not film the character directly but rather through the mirror’s reflection, perhaps an attempt to question the audience whether this is reality or not which emphasises even further the idea of a mystery or enigma.
- 6. In this shot the first character is presented to the audience. The use of an extreme close up on the character’s eyes gives the audience an idea about who he is and his emotions; a male who appears to be middle aged due to his facial features and colour of his eyebrows. His eyes seem fatigued perhaps to convey he does not get much rest with whatever he does in his life. His pupils are not dilated which shows he is not scared or frightened. However, his expression suggests he is focusing on something or someone.
- 7. A close up shot on props tells the audience more about the plot of the film. There is a picture of a woman who seems to be murdered, almost like an evidence picture; suggesting the film may be about an investigation about a crime, suicide or murder. Also, notice how the male character is wearing a ring; male protagonists in thrillers do not often wear rings like this. The ring is probably being used to portray this character as classy or wealthy and therefore in some level of authority.
- 8. In this still, and angle shot of a newspaper prop gives further clues about the plot of the film. It is obvious to the audience in this shot that the film will involve a homicide investigation, as the newspaper article clearly shows. Note how the title of the article says ‘deeper investigation’ suggestion that there is more than is expected to be discovered. Finally, the fact that the story is on a newspaper means that the story has received media coverage, meaning that law enforcement figures may well be present in the investigation.
- 9. This final still sees a very long shot of a plane flying over the empty landscape, like a panorama of the setting. In this scene the plane is flying into the fog, clearly visible in this still. The idea of a plane flying into the fog is very symbolic of the investigation. The characters don not know what they will find out in their investigation, they are unclear; like a fog, their mind is ‘foggy’. The plane flying into the fog therefore symbolises the characters going to investigate the homicide.