Thriller Title Analysis: Vertigo

Thriller Title Sequence: Vertigo

Representation in the opening scene

In vertigo we see a negative representation. The use a woman close-up gradually moving upwards until we have a full screen of her eyes in which she starts to look around her which connotes that she is worried. We do not know who the woman in the opening sequence yet but thats a good thing in order to draw the audience in more. Her lips twitch nervously, introducing anxiety and a close examination of the characters physical appearance.

The female character is clearly on edge and not comfortable with the viewers scrutiny This scene introduces some more key conventions of the thriller genre: anxiety, paranoia and the notion of looking. Being watched and being seen watching someone else are also conventions of thrillers.

Her eye is zoomed in an a illusion effect when the titles appear on screen. It helps to create the atmosphere and the feeling of the movie which is suspense and tension. Which is a positive representation of a thriller as it contains the conventions of a thriller. But the representation of the woman is negative as she is being shown as helpless, in a panic and scared. They are portraying a common stereotype of women as the victim. Their not showing her in a positive light which would be going against the stereotype and portray women as strong and independent.  It then zooms in one of her eyes which the screen goes red and the color red represents danger. Which can connote a shift in the mood linked to the introduction of the theme of identity which confirms the sub-genre of the film.

 After the zoom in of the eye, a rotating, spinning, spiral appears from the centre of the eye, enlarging after every rotation keeping the same circular shape of the eye (Iris wipe). This is clever of Alfred as it shows he has thought about his opening; (the word vertigo refers to dizziness, where there is feeling of motion when one is stationary) he has incorporated the meaning of vertigo by adding the spirals and disorientating images, focusing on the dizziness referred to the word Vertigo, and using it as his opening giving the sequence a lexical field of disillusion. This also adds to the denotation meaning, as the audience then associates the symbol of the spiral and dizziness to the word Vertigo.  The spiral images continues leaving the audience waiting in suspense wondering what is going to happen, leaving them puzzled to question themselves. The last spiral then focuses back to the eye, and the blood red color, rotating to the shape of the eye. The scene then fades into blackness, leaving the audience wanting to watch on. 

Titles of each opening look like

The titles in Vertigo are in a serif font they are bold and white which makes them clear it does not block anything out behind the writing. when the main movie title starts we see the background change  color which adds emphasis that it is the main title. The way the titles are set out makes it clear to the audience the genre of the movie. I would say these are unconventional title styles as usually you would have a black background with with a clear white font but the way it is set out is different. with a different style of background and font style but some parts of the style are conventional.

Camera, sound, editing and mise-en-scene 

In Vertigo they do not use a variety of shots. They use mainly extreme close-up which is every effective as it draws the audience in. Pan shot is used to have a close-up of only one of her eyes. The sound used in the opening is mainly non-diegetic and its a sound track. The pitch is high but when a title comes on the screen it suddenly  changes to a low pitch with a fast pace then it will fade out back to its original sound. Which built the suspense leading to the start of the movie. With mise-en-scene the woman has no make-up on which makes clearer her face and the emotions she is portraying. There are no props in the audience wonder more where she is the effect used makes it more authentic to the conventions of a thriller. With the editing it does not cut each scene it is a continuous shot that is always blended into the next shot. Even when it goes to the main sub titles it fades out from the woman's face. This adds more emphasis of the setting in each shot.

Narrative in the opening scene match the conventions of a thriller genre

The narrative in Vertigo matches the thriller genre, as it includes the conventions of a thriller like the tense high pitch to sudden low pitch music creating suspense and tension. The themes of unknowing is portrayed through the mysterious character we see in the opening. It makes people think about what is happening it is not straight forward. 

How the production company might influence what appears in the film

Paramount pictures made Vertigo it may influence what is in the film depending if that company is know for a certain style or genre of movies. Also where their name is placed whether mentioned in the ending credits or the opening scene. Also if the company is well known like paramount they will have a lot money they will be able to use to have a lot of power to say how to do something.

What may happen in the rest of the movie....

I think the woman we have just seen will have a main role to play in the movie. I also think that her character will be seen as a victim in the movie and be trapped in a position that she cannot get out of. Also from the opening sequence the movie looks like it will be filled with puzzles which are always going to leave the audience members thinking. I think the main storyline is going to involve a man also.