Colour in a Psychological Thriller

Colour can create different emotions and feelings towards a certain attitude or representation and can adjust the mood and atmosphere in any image or clip. Through our film opening it is crucial we explore the different colours which will enhance the meaning of a phycological thriller in our piece. 

Black Swan Trailer

The Colours frequently used in this trailer are mainly black, white and red, which each contribute to the contrasting mood and atmosphere of this clip. The negative dark lighting and black colours used signify death, hiding a secret and evil. Differing from this imagery is the light spotlights and white which demonstrates purity, beauty and innocence. The red is also a very bold colour which stand outs, in revealing blood, death and danger. When creating our phycological thriller we may decide to incorporate these three elements of colours/lighting, to produce a similar representation and symbolism.

Se7en Film Opening

Here in the Film Opening Se7en, the use of colours explored are mainly exposed to be black, white and red, which were the same in 'Black Swan', representing a pattern of what the colours are in a conventional physiological thriller. In this film opening there is also a lot of dark shadows casted over the viewing, which creates a mysterious and fearful atmosphere. These shadows also make it hard to distinguish the setting, which further creates disorientation and concealment.  However, the light guided over certain parts of the shot reveal certain focus points, which direct the viewers attention to certain movement or objects. 

Colour Symbolism Chart 
Here is a colour chart which indicates the possible meanings behind how colours are represented. 

	Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate.
	Pink symbolises love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
	Beige and ivory symbolise unification. Ivory symbolises quiet and pleasantness. Beige symbolises calm and simplicity.
	Yellow signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.
	Blue: Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
	Turquoise symbolises calm. Teal symbolises sophistication. Aquamarine symbolises water. Lighter turquoise has a feminine appeal.
	Purple: Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honour, arrogance, mourning.
	Lavender symbolises femininity, grace and elegance.
	Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.
	Green: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigour.
	Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.
	Grey: Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolises calm.
	White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.
	Black: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical colour, mourning, death (Western cultures).