Lost Highway Opening Sequence

This opening sequence creates tension because it is very slow and dramatic with all the dark colours and the dramatic line the man at the door says at the door through the wireless telephone doorbell. This makes the reader want to watch more because they want to find out what the main male character does with that message and how he reacts, also by it being very slow paced it draws them in because most films are upbeat, fast paced with lots of vibrant colours whereas this is the complete opposite.

Mise-en-scene

• Easy location
• At the start he has a cigarette in his hand - to give him a harder edge
• He is wearing his dressing gown, which means he has just got out of bed. It also means he is a lazy character as he still hasn't gotten up.

Camera

• Long shot when the camera is zoomed in to the house at the window and you can see his whole body, that is also to show he is in his dressing gown and has just got out of bed. 
• Extreme close up when he is sat at the table with his cigarette in his hand before the phone call, to show his is a tougher guy.

Editing

• Shot reverse shot when he is sat at the table with his cigarette and then it moves to the doorbell then back to his face to show his reaction which is very neutral.
• Long take when he is listening to the voice through the phone on the wall. 

Sound

• Low key lighting at the start where he hasn't yet pulled his blinds up so it is very dark which builds up the tension.
• High key lighting when he starts walking towards the windows to look outside at who gave him the message, this is natural lighting and makes it look a lot more life like and real. 
• There is both diegetic sound and non diegetic sound.
• Non diegetic sound is used when the voice has just come through to him, its a deep, quiet sound which makes the audience feel frightened because they don't understand whats happened yet. 
• Diegetic sound is used when he is walking into the other room and you can hear police sirens.