Made in 2006 V for Vendetta stands at number 146 on the IMDB’s top 250 list. It was directed by James McTeigue. Released on 17th March 2006 and made £1,188,058 on opening weekend, although being critically acclaimed the film didn’t receive any major awards. The film was produced by Warner Bro’s.
The film’s opening does not give much away when coming to a narrative, the main achievements in the opening are introducing the protagonists and setting the scene. The film show’s two characters in different locations, the film is running a dual narrative. Although the complexity of the narrative is not revealed, their are codes and conventions of thriller films being showcased, there are weapons seen when V is getting ready. Mystery is what audiences expect to see when viewing a thriller, they are immediately dragged into this film as the Guy Fawkes mask is seen, an unknown entity is an icon of thrillers as well as fitting the character archetype. The audience will want to try and work out for themselves the identity of the man throughout the film, thus getting what they expect of this genre.Throughout the film V is portrayed as an anti-hero, an anti-hero is stereotypical of thriller genres as they are relatable to the audience.
The other character seen is E-Eve a younger girl, the audiences expectations are met here as a typical convention of Thrillers is to have an innocent woman put in some kind of trouble or distress. However both characters are seen watching the same show, with a bigoted, aggressive man is shown on screen. He has a direct mode of dress and has an forceful manner, both characters show distaste towards the character. This produces a mystery of the antagonist.
Rather unconventionally there is no music in this opening, thus not much tension created, however mystery overshadows this. There is a diegetic dialogue drawing in and out of the scene, which also helps set the scene as it describes the benefits of the new tyrant British government. There are diegetic sounds of movement within the scene, however sound is limited, which is unconventional for thriller opening as they usually have incidental music to create tension or a soundtrack.
The opening is shot using dual narrative, two events running simultaneously. There is an establishing shot in V’s hideout, connoting to audiences that this will be an important place within the film. The shots from both narrative are matching, for example when they both put on their shoes, one shot after another. The ease of this task also highlights the contrast between the characters. There are close ups on V’s weapons, highlighting these icons of thrillers fulfils the audience pleasures, as they expect these in thrillers. There is also a POV shot through V’s eyes when he puts on the mask, this further highlights to the audience that he is a mystery and his identity will be kept a secret.
Within this opening credits are not seen, this is unconventional as majority of thrillers do this, for example David Fincher is famous for thrillers and is renowned for his opening sequences in Se7en and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
This opening creates more of a sense of mystery than tension, however both are conventions of thriller genres. Further in the film tension is built up, the audience get’s what they pay for in both the opening and the entirety of this film.
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