Analyses of Dexter Opening Scene

- Close Ups

There are many close ups utilised in this opening scene. For example, the extreme close up on the bacon. This is done in a very special way, which tricks the audience into thinking it is human skin. Then there’s the close up of blood; this can represent many different things such as murder or pain, but really he is just shaving his face. Psychological trickery is an important part of the thriller genre.

- Sound

Music used in this opening connotes mystery, giving the impression that the person in the scene is up to something menacing. The cutting and “squishing” noises give a sense of uneasiness, and can make the audience feel uncomfortable. Really though, he’s just making his breakfast. So the use of sound is very successful at playing with the audiences mind.

- Lighting

The lighting in most shots is dark around the actual subject, therefore putting more emphasis on the subject. This means there are no distractions, and allows for the director of the opening to control what the audience is able to see. For example, when the man is slicing the orange in half, the area around it is dark and blurred, and only the orange is in focus.

- Pacing

The pace is quite fast, with rapid transitions. This method is used to keep the audience from fully working out what’s going on and to cause confusion. More specifically for this scene, quick transitions are used to keep the audience from realising just what it is that the man is actually doing, and causing them to believe that he is doing something much more sinister than making breakfast and getting ready to go out.