Double Indemnity - Analysis

The title of the film

The title of the film Double Indemnity is once again a conventional thriler font, bold capitals. However it has a black shadow behind the text Double Indemnity which is unusual for a modern day thriller as that effect is less popular. Also Double Indemnity has a figure of a male character on crouches which is not normal as usually it would be a black background. An audience may feel spooked to this as the male firgure is always in the background and we wonder why it is there or what it means.

How the setting/ location is revealed

The setting of the film is plainly expossed by a sign post which clearly says Los Angeles so as a viewer we automatically presume it is set in Los Angeles. The setting is not weird or spookey at this point however we don’t know what is going to be lead from the location as it does not give away much information to intise a viewer.

Costumes and props

There is not much props within this opening sequence, but we do see a man dressed in a long jacket and top hat which links into the man who is wearing the top hat behind the titles. The dress sense of this character may make an audience believe that the male character is a formal business man.

Story – and how the opening sets the story up

The opening sets up as a male charcter who we believe is a business man working in an insurance company. We as viewers wonder why he is going in to work so late in the day. It is almost night time and as a viewer we feel startled at this as it is very bizarre.

Genre (thriller) – and how it suggests it

The way the character is behaving in such a discourteous mannor we believe the charcher could be up to some type of murder maybe intentionally. We see the character skip the red lights and almost cause a car accindent. We our wary of this character as he is causing mahem on the roads which could be fatal.

How any characters are introduced?

The main character is introduced as a rude and unpleasant character; he looks quite formal and seems to have a plan. As viewers we do not know why he is behaving in this way, this creates tension as we could believe he is going to take his anger out on someone as some type of revenge. Because this character is behaving spitefully we feel distant towards him as not everyone can relate this type of behaviour.