Title Research: Se7en

Opening sequence found on www.artofthetitle.com

What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? 

    The opening sequence starts by displaying the name of the studio, production company, and who created the movie. Afterwards, the names of famous actors in this film are introduced, in this case Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. The title of the film is then displayed, “Se7en”, followed by some more of the actor’s names. Afterwards, the credits for casting, music, costume design, editing, production design, photography director, co producers, co-executive producers, executive producers, written by, produced by, and directed by are displayed. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

    Throughout this opening sequence, many images are prioritized, most notably being filled out notebooks, various pictures and documents. The sequence crosscuts between scenes of developing film and filling out notebooks, and many closeups of hands and tools. 

How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outset? 

    There are many ways in which this opening sequence establishes the genre of thriller. The titles throughout this sequence are written in a strange font and flicker, and the film appears scratched, creating an uneasy mood. The various bandages on the character’s fingertips, as well as cutting of calluses on the fingers using a razor blade add to the tense mood. It tells the audience immediately that something is strange, and hints at the potentially obsessive nature of the character. The text in the notebooks is always shown upside down, further adding to the unstable, tense atmosphere.