Opening Thriller Research - The Joker

 The Joker, Thriller Opening Sequence Analysis 

 

The Joker, directed by Todd Phillips in 2019 was produced by Warner Brothers. The film features Joaquin Pheonix, main character, the Joker.  

The lack of dialogue in the beginning of the opening sequence made the film more engaging and allowed room for me to wonder what was going on and who this mysterious character was. The slow forwards track created suspense. Later, the tone changes from dark and mysterious to the busy and light on streets of New York. The change gripped me because it was so different to the first minute. At the end of the opening sequence the joker is left lying in an ally way alone struggling to pick himself back up, the director almost left us on a cliff hanger which makes me want to watch more. 

The diegetic ambient noises quickly tells the audience the film is set in a big city. The main character is sitting at a makeup desk with a diegetic radio playing in the background. The radio mostly talks about the rubbish problem in the city. People quietly mutter as they walking around the space. This gives the connotation that he is backstage getting ready for a show. We can assume from the establishing shot later of the city, and how the people on the streets are dressed that the film is set in America.  

While the Joker, dressed as a clown spins his big card advertising a shop, a group of teenagers steal it off him. They say ‘if you’re going to be a clown, at least be a good one.’ The chase to get his sign back is paired with diegetic piano music played by a man on the street. This feels quite contrapuntal because the piano music is uplifting whereas the chase is done with bad intentions. No one stops the boys even when the clown is yelling ‘someone help, someone stop them.’ This gives the connotation that he is looked down on in society, because no one even bothers to help. We can tell this genre is thriller because one of the boys slams the sign into him, the teenagers then kick him until he is lost for breath. Within the first two minutes there has already been a violent scene. We can assume that the rest of the film will be violent, dark and have high stakes.  

The character slowly applies his clown makeup. Surrounding him is a unicycle and a bright green clown wig, he looks like he is getting ready for a performance. The dark lighting in the green room creates atmosphere. The bright mirror lighting on his face quickly draws the audiences eye suggesting that he is the main character. He looks unwell, he practices a smile, he then puts his fingers in his mouth and forces an over exaggerated smile, tears roll down his face. This shows that he is very unhappy, and possibly not mentally well. The lack of communication with the other people in the room, makes him look isolated and lonely.  

The film could be about his life as an unsuccessful performer and the struggles he goes through. Because the film is a thriller, it could become dark and focus on the low decline of his mental health and how he gets involved with drugs or crime to get by.  

This opening sequence was definitely successful in my eyes. I was drawn in immediately by the slow forward tracking opening shot. It left me with unanswered questions like, what is he going to do next, is someone going to find him? I want to know more about this character