Final Destination

Final Destination is another thriller movie in which has many conventions of a thriller. It starts of with a deep low pitched sound. The pace of the sound is slow and represents an entity that may be in a room. The credits then begin to appear. They have a ghostly effect in which is shown over the shots. This shows that there is something ghostly in the movie.

Once the first credit shows, we then see a shot of lighting and the sound of thunder. This was on screen sound as we can see the source of the sound. Also, a shot from the window of rain is seen. This suggests that something bad will happen, as rain represents a gloomy bad day in films.

There are many transitions used in the opening sequence of Final Destination. The first transition we see is a dissolve, to a long shot of the shadow of the object in which is hanging next to the window. Before we see this, we see a close up of the object as the same time as we see the lighting and hear the thunder. This suggests that the object may well be watching the main character. This is one convention of a thriller.

The credits carry on showing in a ghostly effect. The same music is being repeated in the same pace. However, the longer we listen to the sound the creepier it gets. This can also be a sign of paranoia.

We then see another transition of a fade in to a panning shot. As the camera pans, a shot of a toy monkey is displayed. The camera then pans to a fan. By this time the same tune is being played however, we also hear a growling noise from the fan. This could be a representation of a demon of some sort, in which is lurking around in the room. This is diegetic sound. At this point the music becomes louder and stronger. This may suggest that the entity may be getting stronger and closer to its target.

In addition, we see a transition of fade out in which shows a black background with some ghostly credits shown. We then see a fade in to an extreme close up of a section of the fan. Here the music becomes more dramatic but stays in the same pace. Up to this point the lighting of the shots were very dark, with only the source of light coming in from the window. However, it was still dark because it was in the evening.

We then see another fade in which shows a shot of the bed and a passport being thrown onto the bed. This shot has more light in it, as it may show the excitement of the character's feelings, as the passport shows he is going on a trip abroad.

Furthermore, we see an extreme close up of the plane ticket thrown over the passport on the bed. This tells us the destination, the airline and the flight number. This is significant because it tells us that the first action will take place in an airport.

The violins become more high pitched and more dramatic. This tells us that the time of death is getting closer. A quick extreme close up shot of the edges of the fan is shown with the ticket behind the fan showing the destination and the flight number. This suggests that the fan is like a barrier in which will prevent the main character from reaching his destination. At this point, a sound of wood falling onto the floor, creates a psychological effect. This may suggest that the characters in the film will be psychologically affected.

We then see a close up of a book in which is picked up and then thrown onto the bed. The book is up side down. This may suggest that the characters life will turn onto a different path dramatically, and will not be able to go on his trip.

A quick panning shot of the fan is used to show the source of the growling sound.

The camera then goes back to the book and we see a zooming in shot, whilst the pages of teh book are turning on its own. This shows that something is in the room. The pages then stop turning and stays on a page which has a picture of people in the medieval times about to get executed. This suggests that people will die in this movie in a strange way, and the thing in which is turning the pages is the thing that will kill these people. Here the same sound is used but it is much deeper than before.

Quick close ups of pictures from the book is shown and the music becomes more high pitched.

The camera then goes back to the fan. The fan is shown in an extreme close up in which the fan is going from left to right. When turning we can still hear the growling noise. This still suggests a demon is lurking by.

The camera then turns its attention back to the book, in which is flipping the pages. One page is shown longer then the rest and we see the word "EVIL". This suggests a demon. We also see different representation of evil through the pictures in the book. The music is still high pitched, and can now hear snarling in the background.

An extreme close up shot is used on the fan. Here we see a white light and the word "EAT" in between the fan. When this is shown the music becomes deeper. This suggests even more danger, and we also hear a crow.

This then dissolves into a clsoe up of a picture in which has these words written on it at the bottom of the picture in red. "THIS IS THE END". This implies that danger is lurking by but also, that this will never be the end, as it is shown indirectly. It also suggests that blood will be spilt. These words are then transmitted onto a black background, and after a few seconds it starts to disappear , with a non diegetic sound of wind. This also implies that it will never be the end as death will lurk about.

In the black background, we hear the name Alex in which comes from a woman. A fade in is used to show who said Alex. A long shot is used to show the woman with clothes in her hand in which is walking towards a man packing his bags. This is Alex.

In the shot we see a cheerful lit middle class home. The wall are brightly painted, the parents look happy and so does Alex. This implies that Alex's childhood was a very good one and has never seen bad things.

We then see a low angled shot of the mother about to rip off a tag from the suitcase, with Alex shown in between his mother's arms. This shows that Alex has high power and knows his responsibilities. We then go to a slight low angled shot of Alex when he is explaining to his mother not to rip off the tag, as he says the tag is for luck, in case he gets into a plane crash.

His mother thinks that is ridiculous and rips of the tag. This is shown in a high angled shot in slow motion. This shows the audience that this is like deja vu to Alex. It also suggests that Alex's luck has vanished and some kind of bad entity has been unleased.

A zoom in shot is used on Alex's father as he says "Live it up Alex. you got your whole life ahead of you". We then see a zoom in on Alex looking up at his father in a worried expression. This shows that Alex has a bad feeling about going on this trip to France. Silence in the background continues, until at the end of the shot when violins start to play slowly.

We then come to a high angled shot of Alex as he is sleeping in his room . The lighting becomes dark and the only source of light is coming from the window. The camera pans down and implies that something is watching him. The music gets slightly deeper. This suggests that something is getting closer to achieving its goal.

A clsoe up of Alex's displays is shown in a siloette. The music is now much deeper and implies that the dispalys are watching him. (voyeurism)

Extreme close up is used on a planes per pella in which is turning on its own and we, the audience can hear the wind. This suggests that somethings else has entered the room and it is now getting even more closer. The camera pans around the room to show the direction of the wind. We then see a part of Alex in the light in which is a sense of security and safety.

As Alex is awaken by the sudden gust of wind, we also hear a slight whisper. He looks at the fan and the music becomes even more deeper. The camera then zooms in onto the clock in which shows firstly the actual time. It then shows the flight number on the clock. This shows the audience that something is going to happen on the plane and it is very significant. In the background we hear a non diegetic sound on an aircraft and this sound continues onto the next shot. This is where a sound bridge is used to show where the scene is now taking place.

The next shot is and extreme close up of the board in which shows the flight details for the public. We hear a woman talking in the background who is giving information to the public.

We see a jump shot to the outside of the building where all the students are waiting and getting their luggage, to go into the airport. Here we get a sense of people's personalities via a tracking shot. This shows what the people are doing to give an impression of what people are like when their parents are not with them. One of the character's father tells Alex to look after two of his friends. This tells the audience that this is exactly what Alex will do, as he will try to save his fellow classmates.

The next shot is a long shot of the students standing around in the building listening to the woman talking and giving instructions. However, none of the students are paying attention. This implies that teenagers do not listen to instructions.

We then see a point of view shot from Alex in which he is approach by a man who says "Death is not the end". This suggests that death will carry on taking people's lives.

A sound of the board changing it's information is significant. Alex looks at the board and we then start to hear echoes. This is like deja vu for Alex as he feels uncomfortable. A long shot is then used with the same sound. The sound is familiar but also mysterious as if Alex has been in this situation before.

The students have been checked in and are now all sitting down at the waiting area waiting to board the plane. A tracking shot is used to show the people who will be more involved later in the film. Throughout the tracking shot we hear high pitched violins starting to play. This suggests that the time for the action to come is getting closer. The sound becomes deeper when Alex looks at the aircraft in which he will be boarding soon. This suggests that the plane is a danger.

Alex and his friend decide to go to the toilet. In the toilet, Alex becomes familiar with a song that is playing. As the music carries on, he says "the time of the plane crash". This is significant as he has more deja vu feelings coming to him. However he does not seem to take any notice as he must now board the plane.

All the students then start to board the plane and as Alex shows his ticket. he becomes still and looks as if he is in a day dream. Again high pitched violins is used. This shows that the bad entity is getting even closer to achieving its goal.

From looking at the opening sequence of Final Destination, this film is targetting a certain audience. In my opinion i think it's targetting people between the ages of 15-30. This is because the film has young people in which go through this mysterious situation, and shows what they would do in this perdicament. In addtion, i think that the effects used are to give a certain creepy feeling to young people, as the film also suggests to trust your instincts.

Overall, i thing that the opening sequence of Final Destination is a great opening, as it does have only certain conventions of a thriller. This is an excellent idea as too many conventions would be too much and will effect the storyline, and will lose the audience throughout the film. Final Destination did not have too many conventions in which helped the storyline to become clear and realistic.

In addtion, the camera shots used were good as they established the story, the character and the emotions of the characters. In Final Destination, the filmakers used a varity of different camera shots and angles. However, they did not use one shot too many times. I think that was brilliant because it established everything more clearly.

Furthermore, the music used was the same. Thiswas god because it showed that it was the same thing in which is following the characters, and it also helped to establish what was following the characters.

In conclusion, Final Destination, is a brilliant film as it establishes the storyline clearly, and nothing is used too much in order for the story to make sense.