Analysis of the Opening Sequence of the Searchers - the Search for the Visual Designs

The Search for the Visual Designs

The opening sequences on any film can aid in giving a background and more solid feel to the film, even giving a sense as to what has happened before the camera has turned on. One can feel the underlying story in the actions of the film within the first five minutes. In The Searcher's the use of lighting techniques, camera effects, and the actors actions and reactions help the viewer bond and get to know the different characters, while also seeing that some kind of underlying darkness coming. This darkness is unnamed and unknown to the viewer at this point, but is hinted at by the visual techniques used by the director of the film. The director also uses these same techniques to help the viewer understand what is happening within the family.

The use of bright, but soft light aids in the viewers ability to see the actors and find the feel of the underlying darkness in the film even in just the first shot of the film. The fact that the woman, who was framed by the doorway, comes out into the bright lights of the desert helps to give a sense of coming away from, and out of, the darkness, and the viewer is then able to see who she is. The brightness of the lighting, and softness is brought out by the person riding up, they can be seen even with everything around them, but the feeling there is not harsh partly due to the low contrast. And though the gentleman who is riding up at that point is still in darkness, you however do not get a sense that he is the one that is bringing darkness upon the family. But the softness of the lighting changes from the rider to the family, there is a greater contrast among them, but also a greater clarity, as the shot moves in. The lighting is bright, but rather realistic, and for the most part continues on realistically, this keeps the continuity from the change of outdoors to the entering into the house.

The change when the actors enter into the house is continuous, but also slightly shocking, while the lighting overall is realistic, the use of high-key lighting helps the actors to be seen, and they are clearly lit throughout the scene. While the lighting seems to fit with the brightness in the background and allow the viewer to see, it seems almost to bright. The brightness forces the viewer to take everything in in a short amount of time, while this lighting is good for that it could cause some confusion for the viewer since at the beginning of the film, the inside seemed rather dark, and the second scene in the house is suddenly so bright. But this change seems to fit so well, and the viewer, even with some slight confusion is able to take in all the information, and see the family in their natural habitat. So, while the lighting in the home seems realistic, it is far more practical in this scene, but the line between practical and realistic are able to be so close. It is also in this short scene in the home that