SH Analysis of an Opening Sequence 2

The Number 23 (Schumacher, 2007)

Genre: This film is a psychological thriller, as it creates suspense and tension but also incorporates elements of mystery and drama to make it psychological. In this opening sequence, a sense of mystery is conveyed as the audience does not know what is happening, as this sequence is a montage of text which appears to be written by a type-writer.

The opening sequence of this film conforms to the genre of a thriller, as the actual text changes and jump cuts are used to move from one piece of text to another which shows the sequence in an abrupt way and creates a sense of abnormality.

Also, the patches of red blood which appear connote a sense of horror or murder, which further conveys the thriller aspect of the film and possibly a sub-genre of horror. The opening is a title sequence, and focuses on the number 23 as it is displayed in almost every shot and is the film's centres around a character who is dangerously obsessed with the number. The numbers are accompanied by historical facts related to the number 23 and also the actors and some of the crew names, which are in slightly larger and bolder font than the other text, or appear in red rather than black to make them stand out so the audiences attention is focused on them.

Generic expectations of this film are fulfilled in this opening audience, as thriller elements such as the fast cutting rate and patches of blood convey this genre, and the repeated showing of the number 23 creates a psychological aspect.

The target audience for this film is mainly adults aged 18-50, as it contains scenes which are inappropriate for younger audiences, and also appeals to the adult audience as psychological thriller require the audiences to be engaged with the film, as this film contains plot twists and a elements of mystery.

The opening sequence does not reveal many hints about the plot itself, but does connote a sense of mystery and a possible theme of horror and obsession through the repeated use of the number 23 and the blood patches, which is what the audience is likely to read by viewing this opening sequence. It conveys an enigmatic plot from the beginning, which will appeal to the adult audience as they will see the film to discover the mystery.

As a British teenager, my age and background may influence my reading of the text. However, in this sequence I do not believe it does as no social groups or characters are revealed, so my views on class, gender, race, sexuality or any other detail of a character which may differ from other audiences, cannot be conveyed. My reading of the text is the same as other audiences likely readings.

The Number 23 stars Jim Carrey, who is a famous bankable star but usually appears in comedy films. This is an interesting cast for the production company, as he is not famous for appearing in thriller films, but this may still attract financiers and audiences as he is a famous actor nonetheless.

The film had two trailers released on television and cinemas and was on widespread release for only 35 days, and it was mostly unsuccessful with critics which discouraged audiences to see it.

The film was produced by New Line Cinema, which is currently a subsidiary of Warner Bros and Time Warner, which makes The Number 23 an industrial film, as it was produced by a conglomerate-owned company, rather than an independent film.

This institutional context is partly evident in this opening sequence, as the bankable stars name appear, and some special effects were used as the text appears and disappears, changes colour, and the blood patches appear in specific patterns.

The opening sequence may have been entirely computer generated, which connotes that the film is an institutional film, as many independent films may not have the funding or access to the computer equipment needed to produce this sequence.