OK: Opening sequence analysis

The Purge opening sequence analysis (DeMonaco, 2013)

Genre:

- The sub-genre that this film belongs to is 'home invasion' however, the concept of the film is expressed within the opening sequence as we see violence occurring in the streets
- The Purge does not share any of the same characteristics with any other films made, making it unique. The opening is a general outline for the audience to understand the concept of the film, later introducing a story-line involving a neighbourhood who attempts to break into another family's home
- The audience's generic expectations are challenged in the opening sequence, the opening sequence does not reflect what is about to happen later on in the film and so makes the audience feel as if the film is different to generic 'home invasion' films such as 'Panic Room'

Film Language: Camera

- Uses CCTV to connote chaos and to exaggerate the violence that is occurring in the streets
- CCTV camera at a high camera angle to show the full image of the violence
- Handy cam from a news reporter in the sky shows the chaos in the streets connotes that the streets are unsafe and should be avoided
- The CCTV camera effect makes the violence feel more gruesome and chaotic, making the audience believe the purge has stimulated chaos
- In the second clip, the action is continued out of the shot and so the CCTV camera is tilted forward so that the audience is able to follow the footage at a birds eye view
- Most of the shots are at the edge of the screen, as the director attempts to show that these images are not staged and that this is real footage caught on CCTV

Film Language: Editing

- Fast cutting rates are used to convey the meaning of chaos, we only see the CCTV footage for 4 seconds
- The fast cutting rates in between the woman and the other violent scenes presents the woman to be vulnerable and incapable of becoming safe
- Distortion is used throughout the clips to make the footage feel as if it was damaged throughout the chaos that emerged on the streets, seeing that the CCTV camera would've been in the street with them filming them

Film Language: Mise-en-scene

- Knives and handheld objects (props) are used to show the brutality of the streets in order to further show the chaos
- Character blocking of the female makes it look as if she has been attacked and is looking for shelter. Her slow movements prove to the audience that she is hurt
- Shop front windows being set alight increases the sense of chaos, making the audience feel uncomfortable as the see the actions of those who are exposed to the annual purge
- The clothes each character is wearing is very casual, making it feel as if the purge is a casual approach to committing crimes against the law

Film Language: Sound

- Contrapuntal sound makes the audience more afraid of the violence they view on screen as the music indicates a sense that the violence is of some good and this is what is needed to keep the peace

Titles:

- Titles included throughout the clips on the left and right hand sides of the screen so that the audience is able to focus on the action
- Same distorted effect is used on the titles on the outro making it feel more chaotic as the footage is shown
- Distorted effect connotes chaos; the audience feels that the action on the streets has caused the footage to be damaged
- 'Purge feed' and the location is used in the CCTV footage to make the shots more disgruntled and to inflict anarchy

Narrative:

- The plot outline is not shown in the opening sequence of this film as i believe the director attempts to show how the Purge can cause chaos
- Including the 'Purge feed' on screen creates an enigma code as the audience questions why the 'Purge' has inflicted such disorder on the streets
- The CCTV footage shown in the opening sequence creates an action code, as the audience questions the characters actions in the scene, what is their motive to do such harm to others? is the purge a good thing or is it just inhumane brutality?
- The shots are organised in the way in which it shows the characters to be 'thug-like' as they do not seem to have organised themselves regards to the action they carry out. This can be seen in the opening clip, as we are presented with a man on his phone whilst another person quickly shoots him and removes himself from the sequence
- Non-diegetic sound is used to create tension throughout the opening sequence as we are presented with chilling footage of people being shot, murdered and scenes of people fighting in the street. The music does not match with the mood of the footage and so therefore the audience may feel perplexed at what to make of this opening sequence

Representation and Ideology:

- Young men/teenagers are represented in this clip to be the antagonists, as they feel motivated to carry out the violence. This reinforces stereotypes towards teenagers who are believed to cause trouble
- Hooded characters are seen in the footage, reinforcing the stereotype of 'the hoody' and how this item of clothing connotes violence and terror
- The only female character in the clip is represented as being vulnerable as we see her on her own in the street covered in blood, after we are have seen the chaos that seems to be happening during the night of the purge. The gender stereotype towards women is reinforced in this clip, as we question why is this woman still out on the street? and how has she obtained these injuries?

Media audiences:

- The target audience for this film is for young men between the ages of 16 to 25, we can tell as the footage includes chilling violence that may not appeal to an older audience and also, the concept of the purge may make other audiences feel disturbed


Institutional context:

- 'The Purge' was produced by Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse productions
- It was distributed by Universal Productions
- Platinum Dunes have been involved with films such as 'The Amityville horror', 'Texas chainsaw massacre' and 'ouija'
- Blumhouse productions have been involved with films such as 'Paranormal activity', ' Insidious' and ' Sinister'
- The film was commercially successful, grossing $89,328,627 during its run, far surpassing its $3 million budget. It was the lowest budget film to hit the top of the box office charts in 25 years before its release
- Ethan Hawke stars in the film as the father of the family of four, also the head of the security company that has made all of the instalments for his neighbourhood for the annual purge