1.  Identify the key actions within the opening - what kinds of actions are included and how is the narrative moved forward?
2.  Identify the enigma codes within the opening - what kinds of questions are posed and how is the audience meant to read these codes?
3.  Identify key characters and think about what they represent in the opening
4. Interpret the cultural codes in the opening.  What kind of knowledge is being drawn on? social/historical/political/art and culture etc.  Highlight the 3 most important references in the opening that help with audience understanding.
5.  Identify key themes and analyse how they are presented visually/technically.


1. The main action in the scene is the game the two parents are playing. This is going on as the car travels further and further into the isolated forest, this is shown by them moving off of a congested motorway. The game they are playing immediately shows us that the two are well educated, and the fact they have a CD player in their car is a sign of wealth (the film was made in 1997). They are shown to be a perfect image of a wealthy family. The extreme heavy metal that explodes as the blood red titles flash on the screen not only jolt the audience but it also completely contrasts the operatic arias heard in the scene. The audience is left asking why this has been chosen and is it foreshadowing the vents to come?

2.  -Why was this chosen as the opening, it does not immediately capture the audiences attention?
     -Why is the heavy metal introduced and why was it used?
     -Does the heavy metal foreshadow what's to come?
     -What will happen in this film?
     -Where are they going?
     -Who are they (the family)?

3. The whole family look wealthy and present themselves as well educated by listening to classical music. There is no real gender issues between the mother and father, they seem to be equal and there is no real way for the audience to tell which one works. They represent what we believe to be the protagonists in the film as they aren't presented to have any flaws.

4. The first reference is one to art, the classical music is an immediate way to show the families intelligence and normally this leads to the audience thinking they are an upper-class family.
The next is the CD player in the car, a clear sign of wealth, as well as the car being an expensive Jeep and boat that they are taking with them.
The last  cultural reference is the loud heavy metal this is not only away of juxtaposing the classical music, but because it is so obviously exaggerated that is a reference to music possibly.

5. One of the key themes is wealth this is foregrounded in the scene however it is constant throughout, the SUV, the CD player and the boat all show the wealth the family has. Another theme would be the music as it quickly switches from operatic to the insane 'Bonehead' by John Zorn is a possible theme of insanity.