Melissa's Textual Analysis of "The Usual Suspects"

"The Usual Suspects" Analysis - Melissa

Figure 1

The scene opens with darkness followed by an extreme close up of matches being set alight (Figure 1), immediately creating contrast to shock the spectator and an enigma for the audience; leaving them wondering where the opening is set and who is setting off the matches. The initial silence was at first broken by high pitched strings as non diegetic music, creating a sense of suspense by using it as a sound bridge, followed by the on screen diegetic sound of the match lighting, signifying that this is an action of importance. The non diegetic sound is then dropped immediately afterwards, again emphasising the importance of the matches, even though the spectator doesn't know why yet.

Figure 2

We are then shown a hand holding a cigarette and the camera tilts up to reveal the face of a man (Figure 2). The use of a mid close up shot conceals the spectator from the surroundings so they are still left wondering where this is set. The black of the man's costume blends into the darkness and contrasts with high contrast lighting on his face. He has sweaty hair which could convey tiredness or nervousness which leaves the audience wondering what he has done.

Figure 3

A fire is lit and several cuts track its journey, however the spectator never clearly sees where it is heading, creating mystery. Shock is then created through the use of showing the spectator a dead body as the fire passes and illuminates it (Figure 3), the body is not fully in shot and is in the background, still leaving the sense of mystery. There is no other sound except for the diegetic sound of the fire, pulling the spectator in, showing that the fire is the main point of focus. This is then broken by the sound of somebody peeing onto the fire. The spectator hears the second man before they see him, creating an enigma which is iconic of the Thriller Genre.

Figure 4

Figure 5

The camera tilts up from a very low angle but stops before it reaches the second man's face (Figure 4), creating a restricted view as, for the entire opening, the spectator never sees this man's face which creates mystery. The non diegetic high pitched strings begin again, showing the importance of this man. He is also dressed in black and is a silhouette (which is iconic to the Thriller Genre) as he walks down the steps. The use of Foley with his footsteps creates mystery because the spectator can hear his movements but cannot see them properly. The camera uses a long tracking shot which builds suspense which flows into creating mystery when the camera falls behind ropes to create a blocking effect (Figure 5). The strings uses minor key and add a woodwind instrument to create a sense of dread and danger, leaving the audience of the edge of their seats.

Figure 6

Figure 7

When the two men start talking, the dialogue is used very sparingly (iconic to the Thriller Genre) to create mystery. It is enough to show the spectator that the two characters know each other but leaves them wondering how. The first man's facial expressions turn defeated at points which shows the spectator that he knows what's going to happen which leaves them guessing (Figure 6). This is emphasised when the second man says "ready?" because the audience is wondering what they are ready for. The use of shallow depth of field conceals the weapon when he pulls it out (Figure 7), creating mystery and suspense. The shot reverse shot when the first man asks for the time reveals the second man looking at his watch, followed by a defeated head nod from the first man, signifying the importance of this action.

Figure 8

Figure 9

This is followed by a longer shot of the gun (weapons being another example of the iconography of Thriller) to create shock for the audience (Figure 8). The music then crescendos as he raises it up, creating suspense and pulling the spectator in. The camera then cuts to several establishing shots (Figure 9) of the boat (letting the audience see the setting properly for the first time) as two off screen gunshots are heard, creating shock and mystery because the spectator cannot know for sure whether the man was killed. The establishing shots and non diegetic music continue after the gunshots, allowing the audience to recover and reflect from the shock.

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 13

Figure 12

The second man then drops his cigarette onto the fire in slow motion (Figure 12) creating suspense for the audience. As this is happening, the music crescendos once again. Shock is then created by using a cut to a close up of explosives (Figure 11), revealing the ending of the fire's journey. The fire passes through the feet of another dead body (Figure 10), leaving the spectator wondering how many dead people are on the boat. Explosions are only heard off screen followed by a cut of the rising fire from a very low angle (Figure 13). This is followed by an extreme close up on some ropes as sirens are then heard off screen creating a sense of mystery and shock.

Figure 14

The scene then dissolves into an office (Figure 14) where there is still a restricted view as two character's faces are not revealed. Rising smoke from a cigarette remind the audience of the events that occurred in the previous scene. The music diminuendos, showing the audience that this is important information.

Throughout the opening, continuity editing is used so that the spectator is allowed to get involved and caught up in the action on screen without feeling disorientated. The enigma is mostly created through the use of sound and camerawork in this opening.