Analysis of the opening of 'Donnie Darko'.

• Helloooo :)
  I have analysed the opening five minutes or so of the film, 'Donnie darko'. I have to tried to answer the question, 'How does the opening of 'Donnie Darko' fit the codes and conventions of the thriller genre?'. I've also put the clip that I analysed up here so you can see how much i watched. I watched up until 4.10.
  Another thing, I haven't done it in essay form, but I've analysed it in chunks. I've done paragraphs on Lighting, sound, location, editing etc.
  So, enjoy!
  
  http://youtu.be/h8SrDiySfEc
  
  Camerawork
  
  
  
  One of the first shots we see is an establishing shot that zooms in to see him lying on the ground. This launches the audience straight in on the action but also establishes location as well. It also helps emphasise the desolate landscape and the lone shots of Donnie represent how alone he feels. This also gives the audience who to identify with at the very start of the movie. For the first few minutes, all we see is Donnie. This establishes the protagonist nicely and gives the audience someon to identify with for the rest of the movie. This is emphasised by the use of tracking shots on Donnie throughout the whole opening sequence. We always know where he is and what he's doing. Also, the use of low angles and POV on Donnie gives him power in the opening sequence. It also makes the audience believe that he is a 'good guy'. The fact that he is on his own and he is being given power through the use of angles establishes him as the main protagonist.
  
  Mise-en-Scene
  
  Location
  We are first introduced into a desolate landscape in a very remote area. We don't see any people or buildings. This is used to insinuate how alone Donnie Darko believes he is in this location. After the opening estalishing shot, the only other character for the first few minutes is Donnie, influencing the fact that he believes he is truly alone in this location. However, halfway through Donnie's journey home, the location suddenly changes from a very lonely mountainous area to an over-populated town area. This contrast in location is disorientating for the audience, because it is confusing when we are constantly changing location. Also it reflects the fact that Donnie doesn't really know where he is supposed to go. This influences the fact that he is a mysterious character.
  
  Costume
  When we first see Donnie he is very neutral colours. This doesn't give away any insights into his character. However, he is wearing pyjamas and he is barefoot. This gives him the connotations of being confused or mysterious. This is also a narrative technique, to be introduced to our main protagonist as a mysterious character. We are then introduced to a whole town of bright colour and busy people. A prime example of this is when we see two joggers, both wearing neon clothes. This could represent the fact that Donnie believes that he is completely opposite to everyone in his town. It could also represent that everyone in the town is happy apart from him. This just influences the fact that he is a 'mysterious character', a typical narrative convention of the thriller genre.
  
  Lighting
  In the first location, we are outside and it is early morning. This lighting is bright but has a slight 'foggy' effect. This gives the atmosphere of being early morning and we are confused as to why we are there in the early morning. The confusion carries on because we are then introduced to the location of the busy town. Also, the time seems to change because very heavy sunlight comes in. This contrasts to a few shots before with the light sunlight. We are sometimes shown direct shots facing the sun. This is confusing because it is as if Donnie has just come from his own world in the half-light to the bright world of everyone else.
  
  Props
  Regarding props, I only noticed one major factor. This was the book that donnie's mum is reading when he comes in from being in the mountains. It is a book called 'It' by Stephen King. It's about a boy that is pursued by a supernatural force in the shape of a clown. This foreshadows the story of Donnie because it is his story except he is being followed by a giant rabbit. Also the fact that Donnie's mum is reading it and is very interested in it contrast to when Donnie comes in. When Donnie enters the house, she just tuts but she is engrossed in this story. It reflects how uncaring his mother is in her own son's story.
  
  Editing
  In this opening sequence, all the shots we see, even when Donnie's on his bike, are really long and quite slow. This is to help the audience see more of the story and more detail in the story. The only fast cut that we see is when we switch location. It then goes back to extrememly long shots of Donnie on his bike. This fast cut is to emphasise the switch in location. Another thing that relates heavily to editing is the fact that when we are introduced to the rest of the family (Father and Sister then Mother and younger sister) reality is slowed down into slow-motion. It then speeds slowly up into real time again. This is foreshadowing of the events that will happen to the family and Donnie.
  
  Sound
  From the very start of the credits, we hear sounds of a storm. This creates a very creepy atmosphere for the start of the movie. It then turns into a sound bridge, turning from a storm to the sounds of brids chirping, as if in early morning. This is very disorientating because there is a stark contrast in the atmospheres that each sound creates. Another important thing relating to sound is the fact that there was no dialogue or sound effects when he gets on his bike and when an actual song comes in. It is a typical eighties tune and something that teenagers of the time would listen to. It reflects youth and innocence by influencing the fact that all teenagers know is music. It also shows that Donnie can lose himself in a world of music. The fact that there is no dialogue, even when characters are clearly speaking, means we can't get the full atmosphere that the other characters create. The only character we've seen where music isn't playing is Donnie, all other characters have music playing instead of the audience being able to hear their dialogue. This tells the audience to focus purely on Donnie and not to bother with what the other charactes are saying because Donnie is the only important one. Also, it could reflect the fact that Donnie doesn't care for his family because he doesn't care what they are saying to him. He only cares what he says and about himself. This influences the fact that he is a 'mysterious character' but also that he is troubled. Both are narrative conventions of the thriller genre.
  
  Thanks for reading! :)