The Prestige analysis

The opening sequence of The Prestige shows a variety of different editing techniques throughout. It mainly uses jump cuts showing an older man perform a small magic trick to a little girl, and then jumping to a man on a stage with a crowd performing a magic trick. As this is the opening scene, the audience is unaware of who anyone is or why everything is being shown. This is stereotypical to the thriller genre as most thrillers use the opening scene to create confusion for the audience. The jump cuts continue throughout the scene and the stage scene seems to be a flashback or something that happened in the past, which creates uncertainty for the audience. The jump cuts in the sequence also keep the audience watching as they are watching more than one place at once.


Also, the opening sequence of The Prestige shows a variety of sounds throughout. The first shot of the scene shows a forest location where a voice is heard, who is narrating, which says 'Are you watching closely?'. This is directed at the audience which will make them question who it is speaking and they will also keep watching to see why that needed to be asked and what will happen next. This creates confusion and uncertainty for the audience which is typical to the thriller genre. There is more narration throughout the opening scene but it is a different person speaking which again confuses the audience and makes them want to know who it is speaking. This also relates to the scene as it is about magic tricks and the audience wants to look closely so they aren't tricked by it.


Cinematography is used throughout the opening scene of The Prestige. A lot of close ups can be seen such as one of a small bird in the hand of the old man when he gets it out of the cage. This is done purposely so that the audience is focused and the things in the shot are shown in more detail. This links to the narrator saying 'Are you watching closely?' earlier on in the opening scene. The audience is focused on the scene and the magic act that s unfolding. Also, the scene with the stage has its audience, shows through mid shots and close ups, which makes the audience feel like they are with the audience watching the magic trick. Thriller films usually draw the audience in during the opening scene which is what happened in The prestige.


The Prestige's opening sequence uses a variety of Mise en Scene examples. An example of this would be the location of a theatre, where a magic act is taking place in front of a live crowd. The lighting in this location is low key, which is also typical to the thriller genre. The location is purposely used as low key lighting can be easily used and there is an audience, making the scene more atmospheric as well as making the audience feel like they are at the theatre. On the stage, there is a man, who the audience is first introduced to. This means that they do not know who he is. He is wearing a suit and tie, connoting power and importance. This shows that he is the main magician and a suggested main character to the film. This is typical to the thriller genre as the audience asks questions and wants to carry on watching. The mood created is mysterious which is also a common theme in thriller films.