Fast and Furious 7 opening

The opening of Fast and Furious 7 begins as it means to go on with an intense scene that creates a huge enigma. The story reveals that something devastating has happened to the patient (shown through make up) which means Jason Statham is not allowed to see him and also that he is angered that he is in that state. However this leaves the audience asking questions because they do not know the answers.

Further questions are raised such as why are there dead bodies and why is Statham so calm despite destroying a hospital and killing people? These aspects of mise en scene (make up, setting and props) contribute massively.

The camerawork used in this sequence is very effective, with James Wan deciding to use a tracking shot from beginning to end, starting in the hospital room and finishing outside. This works well because it adds suspense and the element of surprise because the audience aren’t sure what to expect because it begins calmly but quickly gets intense, showing the trail of havoc that he has left behind. The lack cuts in this works really well as it shows the audience everything and gives them a natural narration of what the character must've caused minutes before the scene starts.

The sporadic close ups give a connection from the character to the viewer because it shows his emotions while keeping him as the centre of attention.

The normal lighting and energetic music creates a comfortable feeling for the audience which is uncommon in thrillers, but it means that the viewer can form a connection with the mindset of the character because it reflects his mood. In addition to this the dialogue is purely from him, showing his mental state.