The beginning of the film 'Secret Window' starts with the digetic sound of the windscreen wipers, this sound starts when the opening credits are still playing, before the opening sequence begins. This results in the digetic sound being left to the audiences imagination, and the audience assume this sound is a heartbeat. This sound continues into the first shot of the opening sequence; which is a close-up through the main characters car windscreen.
The Style of the opening credits is Gothic and Old, and the main title 'Secret Window' is in contrast to the other white credits as it is bold and red. This contrast to red in my opinion is a connotation to blood, death and maybe even murder. Techniques like this, give us clues to what might happen in the film, without giving too much information away.
A non-digetic voice over is used in this sequence to convey the thoughts of the main character as he sits in his car. The first words spoken in this voice over are “turn around”; suggesting that something suspicious and eerie is happening, or about to happen, involving the main character by something he has seen or done.
The colour during the opening sequence is monochrome throughout, which creates a cold and dark atmosphere, this atmosphere is enhanced by the characters dark, dull coloured and layered clothing and the white snow in the scene. This creates a contrast when the bold, blood-red motel sign enters the frame as the main character reverses the car.
When it becomes obvious that the character is trying to convince himself not to “go back there”, the audience is faced with questions; and where this place is that he is eager to leave but at the same time tempted to return to. The Character reverses back into the motel, drives back out and despite trying to convince himself, the man drives his car back to the motel and leaves the car to enter a motel room; he leaves the frame of the camera shot briefly, then reappears in front of the car. The camera appears to film this from inside the car, creating the impression that the man may be being watched. The Character seems indecisive, hense driving back and forth - this makes us believe the main character is shifty and very parinoid.
There is an OTS shot as the man finds a couple in bed within the room he enters. It is obvious here to the audience that the woman is ‘cheating on’ the main character; we are led to believe this by the way the main character reacts to them. He appears to be in great distress from the way he paces back and forth the room and buries his head in his hands.
Whilst this is happening, the wind from the poor weather is intensified, I believe the wind is a representation of the shock and agony going on in the main characters mind; it is not clwhe wind is used to represent the chaos and shock in the main character’s mind; it is not clear whether this sound is diegetic or non-diegetic, but we know that the sound is intensified.
When this scene ends, there is a dissolve edit to a lake which is a vibrant blue colour; this is in contrast to the monochromatic colours seen previously in the opening scene.
There is a continuous panning shot from the lake which enters a wooden cabin through a small window on the top floor. I believe this is significant as it in referance to the title of the film. This panning shot continues through the house, making good use of mise-en-scene by showing the items on the desk including papers and a laptop. Also clutter on the surfaces also add to the effect of the mise-en-scene which creates a realistic atmosphere. The same continuous panning shot then pans down to the ground floor of the house and through a mirror. The main character is visible lying on a sofa in the reflection in the mirror. I believe this camera technique of going through the mirror may have some underlying clue to what the film might be about.
The music which is audible from the cross-dissolve from the motel to the lake, the music is repetitive and atonal, this creates a very eerie atmosphere. The tune is played on a cello creating a deeper, darker and a harsher sound. Stringed instruments are regularly used in thriller films to create a haunted feeling.
A non-digetic voice over is used in this sequence to convey the thoughts of the main character as he sits in his car. The first words spoken in this voice over are “turn around”; suggesting that something suspicious and eerie is happening, or about to happen, involving the main character by something he has seen or done.
The colour during the opening sequence is monochrome throughout, which creates a cold and dark atmosphere, this atmosphere is enhanced by the characters dark, dull coloured and layered clothing and the white snow in the scene. This creates a contrast when the bold, blood-red motel sign enters the frame as the main character reverses the car.
When it becomes obvious that the character is trying to convince himself not to “go back there”, the audience is faced with questions; and where this place is that he is eager to leave but at the same time tempted to return to. The Character reverses back into the motel, drives back out and despite trying to convince himself, the man drives his car back to the motel and leaves the car to enter a motel room; he leaves the frame of the camera shot briefly, then reappears in front of the car. The camera appears to film this from inside the car, creating the impression that the man may be being watched. The Character seems indecisive, hense driving back and forth - this makes us believe the main character is shifty and very parinoid.
There is an OTS shot as the man finds a couple in bed within the room he enters. It is obvious here to the audience that the woman is ‘cheating on’ the main character; we are led to believe this by the way the main character reacts to them. He appears to be in great distress from the way he paces back and forth the room and buries his head in his hands.
Whilst this is happening, the wind from the poor weather is intensified, I believe the wind is a representation of the shock and agony going on in the main characters mind; it is not clwhe wind is used to represent the chaos and shock in the main character’s mind; it is not clear whether this sound is diegetic or non-diegetic, but we know that the sound is intensified.
When this scene ends, there is a dissolve edit to a lake which is a vibrant blue colour; this is in contrast to the monochromatic colours seen previously in the opening scene.
There is a continuous panning shot from the lake which enters a wooden cabin through a small window on the top floor. I believe this is significant as it in referance to the title of the film. This panning shot continues through the house, making good use of mise-en-scene by showing the items on the desk including papers and a laptop. Also clutter on the surfaces also add to the effect of the mise-en-scene which creates a realistic atmosphere. The same continuous panning shot then pans down to the ground floor of the house and through a mirror. The main character is visible lying on a sofa in the reflection in the mirror. I believe this camera technique of going through the mirror may have some underlying clue to what the film might be about.
The music which is audible from the cross-dissolve from the motel to the lake, the music is repetitive and atonal, this creates a very eerie atmosphere. The tune is played on a cello creating a deeper, darker and a harsher sound. Stringed instruments are regularly used in thriller films to create a haunted feeling.
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