Touch Of Evil- Opening Scene

The Touch of Evil is a black and white film, Directed by Orson Welles in 1958.

This opening sequence is different to many of the others I have researched as the tension is built through the lack of editing, which contradicts a lot of the other clips i have watched who try to build tension with a series of fast pace cuts.

The whole of the opening sequence being filmed in one long take is extremely effective as the audience know that there is a bomb in the car; watching its journey through the town in close contact to all of the local people who are clueless to what is hidden within the car, effectively creates the tension throughout the sequence as the audience are waiting for the explosion but they don't know when it could be and who will be effected by it.The music during the clip is by know means subtle, it is harsh non-diegetic music which is clearly used to distinguish the film genre,and instantly show the audience something bad is going to happen, and establishes the environment as a place you don't want to be.

The mise en scene within the opening sequence, portrays the location as a happy place, filled with innocent people all dressed for an evening out in their local area. This contrasts to the plot and the harsh music, which enables the audience to be even more engaged in the sequence as they don't want anything to happen to these people as they are uninvolved and oblivious to what is going on around them.