Analysis of Thriller Openings - I,ROBOT

Analysis of Thriller Openings - I,ROBOT

I,ROBOT (2004): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/
Director: Alex Proyas
Writers: Jeff Vintar, Akiva Goldsman, Isaac Asimov - (Provided Influential Source Material)

I,ROBOT is a widely known film due to its deep issues of humanity as well as its action and suspense. The film itself is a hybrid of both the thriller and sci-fi genres as it features strong futuristic themes whilst still maintaining a mysterious, unpredictable plot.

The film begins with a fade into 'TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX PRESENTS' above what appears to be metallic structures or chain links. The very first shot of the scene creates a sense of unease and tension as the viewer is given no suggestion as to where the scene takes place, conveying a sense of disorientation, without showing any action.

The capital, sans-serif, metallic lettering used throughout the opening scene is typically associated with science-fiction films due to its sheen, orderly presentation. This suggests to the viewer that the film will feature science-fiction elements and will not follow the typical conventions of a thriller.

The ominous red light furthers the sense of disorientation for the viewer, as it keeps them unclear as to where the scene takes place, therefore adding tension to the entirety of the scene.

The titles quickly dissipate into bubbles which, through the use of computer generated effects, foreshadows an event which happens to Will Smith's character in the film. This with the use of aquatic sound effects suggests that at least some part of the film will take place in or around water. 

These added water effects are juxtaposed throughout the scene by the metallic structures seen in the background which helps to further the viewer's confusion, creating an unnerving sense of perplexity for the audience.

The quick-pan to the drowning girl helps to create a sense of urgency and panic in order for the audience to immediately feel engaged and excited. Despite only seeing a glimpse of the girl, the audience can identify her as a victim due to her visible young age, which relies on the viewer's pragmatic understanding of childhood and innocence.

Momentarily, the viewer can see a metallic leg which is used briefly in order to surprise the audience, immediately drawing interest towards the film. However, due to fast pace of cuts in the scene, the viewer only sees the leg for a few seconds, allowing the audience to question who the leg could belong to. This sense of intrigue is typical of thrillers and is used to create a more substantial impact when the character is finally revealed.

The non-diegetic, dramatic music adopts a sharp tone as the text appears which highlights that the audience should take note of 'Law III'. The music also suggests that a threat is present in the scene, therefore creating tension for the audience. 

The traditional, typically handmade instruments used for the music contrast with the highly sterile, minimal appearance of the metallic background. This contrast actually works to great effect as it helps the scene to remain ambiguous in relation to its location and time setting.

The low-key lighting used and this shot, as well as the entire opening scene, is typical of thrillers. The focus on the robot's bright, shallow eyes, as well as the darkening of its body, suggests that the robot could be an antagonist as it remains in shadow.

The minimalistic features of the robot's face make it hard for the audience to identify the robot as an antagonist or protagonist, meaning the gesture of the reaching hand is left ambiguous.

Opening Titles in chronological order:

Twentieth Century Fox Presents

In association with Mediastream IV

I,ROBOT