Thriller Comedy Samples

After deciding on creating a thriller comedy piece, I researched existing thriller comedy productions to evaluate what openings worked well to start off their films. Three of these films include The Pink Panther, Parasite, and Knives Out.

Parasite (2019)

Parasite uses a similar opening scene to Pink Panther in the sense that it introduces the characters and the credits. However, in this case, the intro is not an animation sequence that follows a different timeline than the real story; instead, it starts off the main plot while introducing the characters in live-action one at a time until the interactions between the characters grow noticeable. The thriller elements are absent but the search for the wifi allows the audience to relate to the comedic situation.

Knives Out

One of the more recent thriller comedies, Knives Out utilizes its opening differently from the other two films researched. Instead of using comedic elements the intro focuses more on the setting of the production as it plays a pivotal role for the movie's plotline. The characters are not necessarily introduced with their actions taking more notice than their faces and personalities. The gruesome murder of the man marks the beginning of the transition into a scene more focused on character development like the other two films.

The Pink Panther (2006)

The Pink Panther's opening serves two purposes: to introduce the characters and to display the credits. And a third more subtle motive is to discreetly introduce the plot. Instead of using the live action characters that the majority of the film uses, the opening uses animated characters of both the inspector and an abstract animation of the pink panther. Although the pink panther refers to a prized jewel, the use of an actual animated panther represents the lucrative and elusive nature of the artifact.