Inspiration and movie openings

Today, I looked at some movie openings to get inspiration for my own film, Stalker.

Opening scenes are crucial, they set the tone, introduce key themes, and immediately draw the audience in. I focused on thrillers and psychological dramas, paying close attention to how they build tension and intrigue from the very first frame.

One of the most striking openings I watched was Se7en (1995) https://youtu.be/SEZK7mJoPLY?si=M7rrZLbj6He2sTEj. The eerie, slow paced montage of a killer meticulously preparing his notebook, combined with unsettling music, immediately establishes a disturbing atmosphere. It made me realize how important small details and close ups can be in setting the mood.

Another example that stood out was Drive (2011) https://youtu.be/d_WdKrUGkEo?si=z4Q6kt1OWKRsg7l2. The film begins with a quiet, intense getaway scene, relying on silence, neon lighting, and careful pacing rather than action packed chaos. This reminded me that sometimes, subtlety is more effective than spectacle.

I also revisited The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) https://youtu.be/sY4f_83t_rw?si=arn3SHDhBz5LGTVg, which opens with a surreal, almost nightmarish sequence drenched in black ink. While this style doesn’t fit Stalker, it made me think about how visuals alone can evoke emotions before any dialogue is spoken.

Watching these openings helped me refine my vision for Stalker. I wanted to create an opening that immediately puts the audience on edge something that feels ominous and mysterious but doesn’t reveal too much too soon.