Nayani Vijayaratnam

Analysis of an opening sequence

I will be analysing the opening sequence from the American film The
Purge (2013), which follows the stereotypes of a thriller film with
subgenres of horror and sci-fi.

This close up of James Sandin is used to start the film. From this shot
the audience is able to identify that this character plays a significant
role to the film, as he is the first character the audience see. Miseen-scene of the sunglasses shows to the audience that it is during
the day and helps set the scene. In addition to this the expensive
looking watch on his wrist represents him as someone of the upper
class, which suggests that he is privileged/ rich. From the diegetic
dialogue of Mr. James Sandin and Sir allows the audience to
identify the respect and power this character has because of the
way he is spoken to by others. As well as this, it suggests that he is
an important person within the society the film is set in.

This low angle wide shot used represents him as strong and
dominant as the audience are looking up at him. This representation
is what the audience expects of a male protagonist. Furthermore the
mise-en-scene of the sunglasses represents him as a serious

Nayani Vijayaratnam
character and the suit suggests that he educated and smart. The
car suggests that he is rich and therefore of the upper class. The
diegetic dialogue of Youre number one Mr. Sandin reflects his
dominance and power which supports the low angle that is used.

We see several over the shoulder shots like this in the opening
sequence, where the main focus is the flowers, this suggests that
the flowers are significant or may symbolize a key event within the
film. The mise-en-scene of white and blue flowers connotes peace
and calmness (white) as well as power and stability. Dark blue and
white are also two colours, which are popularly associated with
America, which is fitting as it is set in America. The mise-en-scene of
his watch again allows the audience to identify that he is rich. The
wide shot used also allows the audience to see the surroundings of
clean streets and nature which suggests that he is in a posh, built
up area which reflects the upper class.

Nayani Vijayaratnam

The long shot of the man placing a vase of blue and white flowers
outside is shown during James Sandins phone conversation with
one of him colleagues. The blue and white again symbolizes
supremacy, solidity, harmony and tranquility. The long shot allows
the audience to see the surrounding of clean cut grass and plants,
which suggests that the people living in the area are upper class
which represents them as fortunate. The further use of mise-enscene such as the suit again suggests that they are knowledgeable.

This over the shoulder/ wide shot is used to show James Sandin
entering a protected and gated community which suggests that he
is of a upper class and he is able to afford to live in a an area like
this. The mise-en-scene of the blue and white flowers, which the
audience has now seen several times, connotes power and
peacefulness, which may relate to the narrative of the film and will
be made clear to the audience as the story unfolds. The diegetic
dialogue of Safe night indicates there will be some sort of danger
later on which is a generic convention of a thriller film and therefore
the audience would expect to see danger.

Nayani Vijayaratnam

Another long shot is used to show a woman placing a vase with blue
and white flowers in front of her house. The long shot shows the
woman in black skirt, black heels and black blazer. The colour black
connotes authority and her smart attire suggests that she is well
educated. The colour black also connotes evil and danger, which
reflect the diegetic dialogue, which is heard from the radio Im
going to hunt down my boss. That son of a bitch has it coming. The
use of profanity suggests anger and hatred, which will be released
later on as part of The Purge. She is the first female character that
we see, other than the colleague who we identify as a woman
because of her high pitched voice, which suggests that females are
less significant/ lower in importance in comparison to men.

This wide shot is used again to show James Sandins surroundings

and the blue and white flowers. Blue connotes stability and power
and white connotes peace and innocence, which is contradicted
through the diegetic dialogue of American streets will be running
red tonight The colour red connotes blood, war and death which
juxtaposes the connotation of white.

Nayani Vijayaratnam

This wide shot shows the conversation between James Sandin and
Mr. Kelly, who lives in the gated community. Mr. Kelly is wearing and
shirt and trousers which suggests that he is smart and educated yet
he is presented as less educated and dominant to James Sandin as
he is wearing a suit which asserts knowledge and power. The
diegetic dialogue of Did you do the security check I suggested?
indicates that there is some sort of evil/ danger that they are
protecting themselves from. As well as this, the diegetic dialogue
presents James Sandin to be of a higher position to Mr. Kelly as he is
giving orders/advice which Mr. Kelly respects and follows.

This wide shot of the door to his house is used to show the audience
that he is privileged and well off. House connotes security and
safeness. The audience are able to identify that this is where James
Sandin lives through the diegetic dialogue of Home again. Nondiegetic score music is used which increases slowly and gets louder
and louder to create suspense and signal the start of danger.

Nayani Vijayaratnam