Se7en Analysis

The opening of the film beginnings with a close up shot of a book being opened, a sound effect is used of a earthquake like rumble sound. This is a non-diegetic sound in a minor key. This sound is effective in triggering the steady pace beat to start. This background beat noise works well as it does not overpower against other noises but sets a speed to the credits and could be used to symbolism a heart beating. This hissing like mechanical sound is heard every other beat and continues until about 1.14 when other sounds take over and it can no longer be heard. 

Credits appear in front of the shot clearly and in parallel to highlights in the sounds. i.e in a scream in the music credits flash into the shot. Credits also appear in white on a black background. In the horror genre a black background for the credits is a convention that is used a lot. The white font has the look of being hand written and dissolves and un focuses to create confusion and disorientation as it is more difficult to read than you would expect.

At 0.13 a close up shot is used of a mechanical wheel which turns making a harsh sound of scraping metal in a high pitch. This high pitch squeak has the connotations of screams and unhuman noises creating a contrast and tension for the audience. This sound is diegetic but only for a second. At 1.11 a close up shot shows a piece of paper with a drawing of a boy the hand that is closest to the camera crosses out his eyes with a pen. At the same time we hear a diegetic sound of the pen across the paper. Sound adds to realism of what the character is doing. 

Throughout the opening credits there are multiple point of view shots; This creates the effect for the audience that they are seeing through the eyes of the protagonist. Makes the audience ask questions as to what he/she is doing? Where he/she is...? etc All shots are very jumpy and sounds are used in parallel to jump cut to another shot. This makes it more disjointed making the audience want to concentrate and be hooked into the opening of the film.

As the opening credits come to a finish pace is increased, volume of sound is increased, the shots become in a faster succession and a 2.02 dialogue of a man's voice sings the lyrics "You've got me closer to God"

This being the only dialogue for the first 2 minutes is surprising and the lyrics add a religious theme to the opening. 

Through the opening credits as an audience we start to get hints the protagonist is male, lots of gestures to making something and putting pieces together such as paper, pictures, string. The shots of books suggest research and the needle he pulls out his finger suggest gory horror elements.

IN CONCLUSION- The opening is gripping, heart racing and gives hints to what the audience can expect in the film. It includes themes of horror, mystery and religion. Sound and music adds successfully in creating tension and bringing a climax to the end of the credits.