Analysis Of 'Flightplan' Opening

• At the start of the opening, a repeated shot of a train zooming past at high speed is alternated with a black screen. When the screen is black, a basic white font is used to display the credits. The simple typography doesnt fit the generic conventions of other thriller films I have analysed, but the editing of the alternating shots creates the dramatic atmosphere instead.


• The music that is played over the opening of the film creates tension. This is due to the high pitched violin sounds, suggesting that something out of the ordinary may happen. A Foley sound is used when the women opens the door, this is used to add emphasis to the action being performed.


• The zooming from behind, over the shoulder of the female when she is sitting on the train platform creates the feeling of anxiety and makes the audience think that someone is behind the women, and may be putting her in danger. It also makes her appear vulnerable, as she is unaware of what actually is behind her and she is looking in the opposite direction.


• Many questions are generated from the opening scenes of Flightplan, which makes it a successful opening. This is because the audience gets engaged immediately and will be more likely to continue watching the film to find out the answers to their questions.


• Some of the questions generated by the opening to this film are: Why is the women sitting at the train station alone? Why is the women in a different country? Who is in the casket dead? Who is the man who leads the women from the train platform?


• The use of a flashback in the opening scene is also another way of engaging the viewer as they want to continue watching to find out the relevance of this flashback. The flashback creates confusion at first, but you get the sense that all will be explained later on in the film.


• The flashback occurs when the women is sitting on the platform sitting in silence thinking. This gives the impression that the flashback is a memory she is now going over in her head. The flashback involves the viewing of a body, so you can sympathise with why the women would be mulling this over in her head, as it is a particularly distressing matter.


• When the train pulls away from the platform, a very effective close up of the vehicle is used along with a sudden loud sound effect which creates fear and startles the viewer.