Thriller Genre: Titles

The mystery thriller genres are there to make viewers question what is happening whilst also gibing them elements of shock and suspense by providing build-up that causes anticipation and anxiety.

The titles/introduction of a film needs to describe this to help draw in the audience by providing hints at these by creating an element of this thrill. They also tend to use dark imagery or colours creating an unsettling air of mystery. One example of this can be Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989). This uses the cryptic inclusion of the actor whom plays Hercule Poirot, this is scene to create a sense of mystery as he is covered by mysterious shapes almost like smoke to use shroud him in mystery.
The thriller elements of this title sequence is shown with the inclusion of pastel coloured animations showing a biplane and a train entombed by smoke and fire. This animation continues and proceeds to show a magnifying glass and a gun showing potential elements to the story. The use of dark colours draws in the audience as a enigma is made, in which they want to find out who this character is and what the use of the gun would be for.

A contrast to this would be the creation of dark elements without using dark colours. one great example of this would be the 'Hannibal'  series in 2013, which uses strong red colours and animation of faces to represent the thrill and horror related elements that the show consists of. The use of these animations show the use of blood to envelop feelings within the viewer. This paired with the music convey a horror and underlying feeling of emotion, whilst again providing that enigma of what it involves.

However, many thrillers do not always convey horror, they play on the newer and more modern view of horrors and thrill that are based on conspiracies, government cover ups and terrorist organisations, a prime example of this is 'Stranger Days' (1995) (http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/strange-days/#)
In this title sequence we see the use of almost sci-fi related fonts, to then be greeted with the introduction to a heist. This already provides a heightened emotion whilst also providing a first person view of the entire event that takes place.
This 'straight into action' take on the title scene allows the audience to be drawn in with th thrill of being immersed in the crime as the first person view provides a more realistic take on the action at hand. The use of the contrast between the sci-fi-esque elements, although related to the films plot, provides a edge of seat experience that all thrillers aim to have.