The Structure of Thriller Openings...

When you analyse film openings you will notice that there are 3 basic structures that are followed, these structures include:-
-A narrative opening with the titles running throughout e.g.

•    The Stepfather
•    The Shining 
•    DeJa Vu 

- A discrete title sequence e.g.

•   Seven
•   Arlington Road
•   James Bond movies

-Titles over a blank screen, followed by the narrative opening e.g.

•   Donnie Darko 
•   Dead Calm

- A narrative opening with highly stylized editing, distinct from the rest of the film e.g.

•   The taking of Pelham 123

•   Mazerine