The Structure of Thriller Openings

Donnie Darko

The structure of the opening sequence in Donnie Darko begins with titles over a blank screen leading onto the narrative opening. 

At the beginning of Donnie Darko, a white title over a blank black screen is shown. After this, three other titles over a blank black screen are shown. This is simple but very effective as it builds tension in the audience but it also introduces the film. The white text on a bold, black background instantly introduces the audience to the film. Also, the black background shows a dark atmosphere reinforces the genre of thriller. 

Following this, we see the narrative begin. A continuous pan shot is shown of a landscape which seems  to be mountains. The pan shot then moves to the left to reveal a boy laying in the road with a bicycle next to him. The boy gradually gets up as the camera pans round his body. In this shot, it is clearly sun rise so there is some light but the atmosphere is still quite dark. This gloomy dark atmosphere reinforces the genre of film.

The shot then changes to another pan towards the right, it then stop and the boy stands up. The boy then turns round almost facing the camera and begins to quietly laugh to himself. To the audience this is fascinating and confusing because the audience want to understand why he is laughing. This sets the scene and introduces the film to be a psychological thriller. 

Once again, after this shot the boy walks away so he is not in the shot. We then see text saying 'Donnie Darko' which introduces the title of the film.

The next shot is of the boy riding his bicycle as non-diagtic sound is played. The song played is 'The Killing Moon' by Echo and The Bunnymen. The title of this song once again suggests to the audience that this film is going to be a dark thriller.