Film opening analysis 1

The introduction to the film 28 Days Later begins with a compilation of news footage showing rioting and uprising throughout different countries, this is filmed mainly with handheld cameras to give these clips a ‘homemade’ feel. It also adds to the panic of the people in the clips along with the frantic surroundings they are in. These clips don’t have a lot in the way of sound, but when it is featured, it is usually heavily distorted and chopped up. The sound enhances the frantic environment the people are in.

The scene then tracks away from a television screen that carries on showing these clips. As this happens, non-diegetic music fades in to match with the camera tracking away from the TV. This music is in a minor key, so it is very sad and emotional; the pace of the music is slow to show the viewer that the clips being shown aren’t what people would expect at the time the film is set.

The camera then cuts to a science lab where there is a chimpanzee strapped to a table in front of the TV screens. There is very little lighting at this point, making the viewer focus upon the chimpanzee on the table; this shows the chimpanzee’s emotions as the camera tracks around the table it is on.

After the camera tracks around the table, it focuses on a TV screen where a security camera’s feed is shown, through the TV, there is a man blocking out the cameras, he is wearing dark, concealing clothing to show the viewer that he is a character that will most likely cause trouble.

Other people are shown in the same fashion as the man, there are a few close ups of these characters wearing balaclavas to hide their identity. After they break in to the laboratory, they take off their masks to reveal their faces, as they do not have any clear weapons on them, and wielding cameras, they are portrayed as social activists, breaking into the laboratory to get research about what’s going on there.