Textual Analysis: SE7EN (1995)

Textual Analysis:

SE7EN

(1995)

https://youtu.be/OEq-4fua3lM

This is my third textual analysis that I have done and is much closer to the genre of film I want to create. Analyzing these film openings will help identify some of the conventions of the crime/thriller/mystery genre, that I may be able to implement into my own work.

During the opening credits, non-diegetic background music can be heard. The music is very

mechanical and choppy with high pitched ‘scream’ like sounds periodically this help connote to the audience, that there is a lack of emotion, or possibly quite a scary film.

The typography used throughout the film has a typewriter feel, this helps set the time this film will be set. This typography paired with the twitchy movement gives a frantic impression to the audience as if someone is trying to keep something undercover.

Switching between scenes of this dark basement like area and the black background and white text only in quick cuts draws attention to what the text, if the viewer recognises or like certain names that are related to the film and like their previous work they could trust this film more than if not. The unique selling point of this film could be its director or actors.

At around 1:08 you can see a close-up of who could be the main character crossing out certain words,

this gives clues to the narrative of the film to the audience. This could be an enigma code as scene as the viewer may have questions about why they are crossing out certain words like ‘transsexual’ and ‘intercourse’ as well as the eyes on the photo, these questions would hopefully keep an audience captivated.