Sequence description: Zodiac

The sequence begins with an establishing shot which pans across the overview of a city, featuring a bridge in a large body of water. The shot is almost entirely darkness with it having low-key lighting with features of light coming from the countless buildings, fireworks and dim glow of the almost black sky. The overall darkness of the shot instantly tell us that it is night time, as well as the fireworks and beginning of a mellow song playing continuously as we switch to a moving street view, also lined with fireworks, suggesting a celebration, possibly being the 4th of July. Overall from the first few seconds i am instantly able to tell that the film may be a thriller / mystery, causing me to become very interested already. 

As the sound and sight of fireworks in the background and music both continue, the date and location ‘ July 4th, 1969 - vallejo, CA’ appear at the bottom of the screen, giving the viewer answers to the reason and place of celebration, then disappearing before the car comes to a stop, showing the view of a house from inside the now stationary car, still with low-key lighting. As the car comes to a holt, they driver beeps the horn twice showing they are impatient, whilst our first character is introduced as he runs up to the car leaning in for a medium shot, starting conversation, they both seem to have kind of a casual, argumentative tone as the male who’s entering the car wants to drive but the woman who is sat seemingly very layed back and casual seems to be set on the fact that she is not giving up the drivers seat, showing dominance which exerts power, especially seeing as it was uncommon for women to have more power than men, which suggests reversed gender roles. 

As they drive off down the street there’s an outside shot of the car, surrounded a calm atmosphere due to the  quiet background cheers of joy, until the sudden change of scene to them pulling up to a bright diner with colourful lights and louder, more present chatter, creating a much more lively atmosphere. They quickly decide to leave and are next parked up in an almost empty area of land where the camera is alternating between two shots from each of the cars two front windows featuring both characters at medium eye level. There’s a few sudden noises from some poppers thrown at the car by other teens and the male main character shouting aggressively back at them leaving subtle shock to the viewer followed by a mildly awkward feel between our two characters now beginning to smile and laugh, although this could also just suggest they are becoming more comfortable because of the increase in eye contact and more relaxed body language. 

The other car pulls up then drives away then pulls up again and whilst this is happening there’s a lot of back and forth shots of inside and outside of the car. The camera then stays on the main characters for a while as a bright light is shining onto them which may strike fear in the characters who are questioning the presence of the other car. As the man in the other car walks over, we hear music playing from his car and the camera pans across following his steps over to their car. There is then a slow motion scene as he starts shooting them and the music dramatically increases as well as the woman’s subtle screams of fear in the background and at this same time, the camera is showing different angles of the woman ,and a quick shot of their radio in between, as both of them are splattered with blood creating an increasingly dramatic feel to this now very dark, eary atmosphere, leaving it clear to us that this film is most definitely a thriller, horror and maybe a mystery due to the anonymous killer we now know of.