The Machinist

The Machinist has a slow opening, following the stereotypical features of a psychological thriller film. However it differs from many films as it starts to create enigma as soon as the screen fades from a black screen to the opening shot. A blurred image of a man is shown to the audience, looking into the room through a window. This establishing shot creates enigma as the audience cannot clearly see what is happening inside the room and don't know who the characters inside are. As the screen fades from black to the establish shot music can be heard in the background. The music creates a tense atmosphere as it is off-key orchestral music, violins and pianos can be heard. Music is used to help the audience feel a certain way, this type of music is used to make the audience feel scared and suspicious. The lighting in the room is low key, the low lightning creates enigma as the audience want to continue watching so they can find out what is happening.

As the opening continues the same shot slowly focuses and it is revealed to the audience that there is a man rolling up a body in a carpet. This creates suspicion as the audience do not know why the man is doing this, or what significance this has to the film. The lighting is still low key, accentuating the shadows in the room. The music intensity increases, telling the audience that something bad has happened and is most likely to do with the man in the room and also increasing the tension. The shot is a high angle shot making the man in the room appear smaller, this could be representing the man as trying to hide what has happened.
The credits appear over this scene in white writing, contrasting with the almost black shot.
The opening shot has not changed, this makes the audience feel as though they are spying on the man in the room, this brings them into the film, making them want to keep watching.

As the opening scene continues, the audience watch as the man in the room walks over to the window. The shot focuses and clearly shows the mans face in the window, revealing the character. The low key lighting makes it harder for the audience to see the mans face, however it is clear that he has a cut on his cheek that is bleeding, suggesting he has recently been in a fight. He is wearing old and baggy clothing, implying that he may be poor and skinny. As the mans face becomes clearer, the music in the background softens so that it is not off key and is more orchestral, relieving some of the tension that had previously been created, but still makes the audience want to continue watching.

This film conforms to some of the stereotypes of its genre, it has a slow opening however it could be argued that it is not a slow as films such as 'The Number 23' and 'Memento' which do not reveal much in the opening. This film reveals reveal the main character and creates enigma as the audience have witnessed him rolling up something (most likely a body).