The first three minutes of ‘Pitch Black’ contains many conventions of the sci-fi/horror style film. These include the fact that the opening is set on a spaceship. Also it involves very low key lighting. This lighting is in the colour red which typically denotes danger or fear, especially in this type of film. It also contains many themes that we would associate with the sci-fi/horror genre, such as the opinion that we are not alone in the universe and that we all have a primitive side of our minds. These themes are backed by the films’ sound, which in the opening three minutes is very tense and eerie, even at the very start. This use of sound is coupled with the use of loud sirens and flashes of light interrupting the music.
The non-diagetic narrative of the opening three minutes given by the main character (played by Vin Diesel) is said in a very slow exhausted tone – as though he has given up all hope . (The narrative is non diagetic because all of the characters in the scene are shown to be sleeping) These are enforced by the fact that the main character is blindfolded and in a pair of handcuffs, which shows that he is trapped in a claustrophobic environment, a trait common within horror films. This creates not only more anxiety in the audience and also creates an enigma, making the audience intrigued and wanting to know what has happened to put the character in this situation, and what will happen next – thus making them want to carry on and watch the rest of the film.
Overall, I think that the opening to ‘Pitch Black’ is a very well thought out film opening as it not only creates an enigma making the audience want to watch the rest of the film, but also creates a number of other emotions common in this genre, such as fear, anxiety and foreboding.
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