London to Brighton Opening Sequence

London to Brighton is an urban thriller that depicts the unpleasant world of prostitution, paedophiles and perverts which challenges the common themes that usually fall under the thriller genre. The opening sequence begins with the production titles over a plain black screen with no sounds, this is followed by the tableau “London 3:07am” setting the location and time of the scene, continued with no sound. The actual opening sequence then begins which is uninterrupted by any titles however it is sandwiched by the film’s title at the end “London to Brighton” which is again over a plain black background. The use of silence before and after the opening sequence deepens the mood of the audience and allows them to fully concentrate on the events on screen.

The opening sequence forms part of a non-linear narrative to dramatize the films effect on the audience as the beginning automatically creates suspense and enigmas. This narrative structure is a common technique used for thrillers in order to keep the audience interested, the events shown in non-chronological order, lead to a series of unanswered questions which will only become clear if you watch until the end of the film. At the very start of the sequence, the first few questions are who are they? Why does the woman have a black eye? Who are they hiding from? And what are they doing together? Within seconds of watching the opening sequence, the audience are drawn into watching the rest of the film, which is what the opening sequence is for. Close ups and medium close ups are the usual camera shots used in thriller opening sequences when showing the protagonist. They allow the audience to get up close and personal to the main characters which allow the audience to build a relationship between them.

The main images and references in the opening sequence are of violence and prostitution, the use of the little girl makes the audience question her safety and well-being which adds to the suspense. The setting of dirty toilets, graffiti and being in a closed area displays a very repulsive atmosphere, with connotations of trouble and poverty, leads to questions such as, how did they get themselves into their current situation? At the end of the sequence, the title of the film appears on screen with a score of little children screaming, giving under tones of child abuse and makes the audience feel unsettled.

Overall, opening sequences can use different approaches in getting the audience’s attention; however they will all end up having the same effect on its audience as suspense and tension are the main traits of a thriller.