The Maze Runner opening scene analysis

The Maze Runner opening scene analysis

The maze runner was released in 2014, directed by Wes Ball. The film is an American dystopian science fiction thriller about a teenager who has no memory of his previous life and ends up in a labyrinth with other lost teenagers on a mission to get out.  

The first part to the opening scene is 20th century fox logo which informs the reader that the film is American. Non-diegetic sound is played of the theme song for the 20th century fox logo which the audience is very much familiar with. It then immediately switches to a black screen with no visual picture however there is sound in the background, which is not common in most films causing the viewer to become intrigued due to it's originality. The sound at first will be confusing to the audience as it sounds like chains, or something metal moving at the start with no non diegetic sounds, however it is a diegetic effect at the start as the opening scene plays. The first visual seen is a full screen showing bared wires and poles denoting that it is a security fence giving the viewer an impression that someone is trapped. As the scene develops the camera is now focused enough so the viewer can see the sound is coming from a moving elevator. The first character is then revealed to the audience as he rises whilst the camera is at a close up showing a small section of the elevator, this implies that he is the main character in the film as the scene is concentrated on him. The audience can immediately hear him spluttering, gasping for air as he rises to the top of the screen, which will leave the viewer wondering what exactly is happening. With a medium shot the viewer can clearly see he is looking at his surroundings in anticipation, confused on where he might be as he is breathing heavily with the diegetic sound of the elevator in the background moving upwards. 

 Throughout this scene there is low key lighting, which adds even more tension to the scene as he is panicking attempting to find out where he is. The elevator then goes up even faster and more shaky which gives the scene more tension as something may occur. A pig snort is heard in which the character acts on curiosity and slowly crawls towards the noise he then moves the material which was covering the cage to reveal a pig, it then snorts at him and he jumps back in panic he then becomes even more scared, also the viewer is left confused as to why there is a pig in the same cage as him. He then jumps up too the corner of the cage, in which the camera goes into a high angle shot which emphasises how weak and helpless he is in this current situation as he shouts for help. Suddenly the elevator stops and an alarm goes off with red lighting which indicates fear and danger. In then cuts to a black screen with only heavy breathing to hear. 

 With the sound of large, metal doors emerging and bugs he is then seen in the same cage however the lighting is high key and he appears to be outside with his arm covering the sun from eyesight. The character is then fully seen too the audience covered in sweat from his previous ordeal wearing a casual grey top. A shadow then slightly moves to indicate someone is above him and then a point of view shot sees him looking at a large amount of people surrounded by him. As they are all looking at him this low angle shot implies that they have power whilst some are heard chuckling as he is left with his facial expression still looking confused and scared. Everyone is seen wearing old, dull colored clothing implying that they are quite poor and as they get him out of the cage he is thrown to the floor and everyone is still surrounding him emphasising his helplessness until he breaks through and starts running. A high pitched noise is then heard as he runs fast which is seen clearly when the camera move to a close up of his feet moving at a fast pace he then falls to the ground and everyone starts laughing he then looks up in awe as he is introduced too large walls surrounding the entire place. After he gets thrown into what looks like a cave with bars, a man then comes, opens up the bars and starts introducing himself and questioning him. As the dialogue continues the viewer is then aware that there is memory loss as he does not remember anything when asks what his name was Alby then explains that the only thing everyone remembers is their name. People are the seen doing chores as Alby proceeds to show him around. The audience is left confused as too why they do not remember anything and where they might have came from. 

Roland Barthe said 'The text is like a tangled ball of threads' the thread needs to be unravelled in order to encounter wide range of potential meanings, The Maze runner supports the Hermeneutic code as the director avoided telling all the facts straight away and the audience was left intrigued throughout as the mystery was unravelling for example, the audience throughout most of the film had no idea where these people came from, why they were placed there and the reason behind their memory loss.