Hostel, starring Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, and Eythor Gudjonsson was directed by Eli Roth and released in 2005 by Lions Gate Films.
The film opens with a few pleonastic diegetic sound effects which consist of: whistling, scrubbing, and water dripping. The isolated use of these causes the audience to feel highly uncomfortable as there is an eerie sense to them which acts as a convention of horror - it can also be considered that the serene whistling is contrapuntal as the sombre colour palette of the scene suggests that something is wrong, making the audience feel on edge which acts as a convention of horror. Additionally, a deeply focused close up is used on a rusty tap/pipe with a man scrubbing in the background, suggesting that this individual is doing something that he frequently gets away with. The rust indicates that this setting is in poor conditions, and creates a rather dingy atmosphere which again makes the audience highly uncomfortable. Immediately, the audience are captivated as the lack of information given makes them question as to what the twisted narrative is.
Another close up is then shown on a set of tiles with filthy suds pouring down them. Once again, this creates a dingy atmosphere but also hints at the narrative; this man appears to be cleaning up after something - what that is remains unknown, thus thoroughly engaging the audience due to the element of mystery which serves as a convention of horror.
More is revealed in regard to the narrative later on as a pair of bloody pliers are washed in a glass of blood infused water; this tells the audience that it is likely that the man whistling could be torturing people as pliers are a common torture device. It also indicates that he is a psychologically twisted individual who does this on a regular basis as he is whistling a happy tune. This aspect of the narrative serves as a convention of horror as it is extremely gory and disturbing.
Then, a drain is shown with fresh blood washing down it accompanied by drain sound effects, implying a sense of a recent victim - again, this is deeply disturbing as it foreshadows the narrative and is extremely gory.
The last shot is of an extremely rusty chair in a dingy room, most likely the place in which this individual tortures his victims. A black out transition is used to exit the scene accompanied by a door clanging shut sound effect. This portrays once again that what this man does is kept behind closed doors, and that he gets away with it. It is an extremely powerful shot to finish the opening on as it has the sense of a cliff hanger, and makes the audience already worry for the characters in the plot which acts as a convention of horror.
Overall, I think this is a moderately successful opening; however, though the lack of characters creates a higher sense of mystery, I believe it may present itself as a bit ambiguous instead - perhaps more intense depictions of the individual's physical features could have created more of a narrative. However, it is clear that the film will follow the victims or the torturer in this location in a general sense, and will be done so in a gory way. The use of these more grim and macabre shots definitely targets a more mature and horror enthused audience, as they clearly establish the tone of Hostel.
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