OPENING SEQUENCES AND ENIGMA - 'PULP FICTION'

The first film I am going to be analysing in terms of introducing enigma and how this affects the audience is the film 'Pulp Fiction'. 'Pulp Fiction' is a crime film. 

The opening sequence of 'Pulp Fiction' does a very good job of introducing enigma and mystery which helps to engage the audience and set the tone for the rest of the film. Firstly, the film begins with ambiguous characters and an ambiguous situation. It begins with a very ordinary looking couple sitting in a diner having what appears to be a casual conversation. The dialogue about robbing banks and restaurants initially seems lighthearted and humorous, however it takes a turn when they suddenly reveal their intent to rob the diner they are currently sat in. This leaves the audience to question their backgrounds and motivations to commit this crime, creating a sense of enigma around these characters. The audience are drawn into the characters by their normalcy, but are quickly introduced to their criminal side, building their curiosity. Secondly, the first scene ends on a cliffhanger. It ends abruptly as she says "if any of you move I'll execute every last one of you". The screen then freezes mid-action and transitions into some opening credits. There is no resolution or explanation about what happens next, which creates enigma and mystery for the audience. This film also has a nonlinear storyline. the opening scene is later revisited in the film, tying it into the larger narrative however at the start, the audience doesn't know how this will tie into the rest of the plot. This nonlinear structure adds to the enigma as it creates a puzzle like structure of viewers to want to solve, keeping them engaged and intrigued. The opening sequence of 'Pulp Fiction' initially hooks the audience by introducing a mix of normalcy and unpredictability, quickly making the audience question the characters and their actions.