Opening of the number 23

How the opening sequence to The Number 23 (2007) shows connotations of death and mystery

is one of the most effective openings to a Thriller film that I have ever seen. It is very obvious from the start of the scene that film is going into heavy topics right from the start, with type writer text spelling out very brutal parts of human history such as Hiroshima and the year that King Charles (1649) was beheaded. This links with the number that is shown on the screen… the number 23. The effect of the events being shown tells the audience that this film will be dark and gritty, that is often the case for the Thriller genre. The way that 23 are constantly shown in the opening sequence shows connotations of mystery.

The soundtrack also is used for great effect, starting out slow in the first 30 seconds, but when the title of the film is shown then the music picks up and starts getting louder and faster, building up suspense and tension. Also, a minute into this clip, what looks like blood splatters onto the screen, making a loud sound as it hits the parchment that covers the screen. The effect of this is that the over powering sound of the blood splatting against the paper is quite sickly and not very pleasant. This use of blood being shown connotes death and torture that is always used in Crime Thrillers.  The atmosphere this creates is very relatable to Thrillers, as it gives the audience the feeling of tension and fear, knowing that the film will contain violence and death.

In my opinion, because we don’t know who the characters are or the time period and setting that this film is in, creates a bigger sense of mystery that is one of the most effective parts to this scene. We do however; get some possible clues to when this film was set, due to the type writer font that is used for this opening. Type writers were often used in 1940s that is also the peak for crime thriller books and films.  The pace and movement of the camera is effective is because it’s unpredictable, the audience not knowing what will be shown on the screen next.