'Lost Highway' opening scene analysis

The scene begins silently, which helps to build tension. The silence is followed by eery non diegetic music which adds to the uneasy atmosphere. The silence is broken by a loud diegetic sound of the buzzer at the door. The focus is on the only character featured in the opening scene, this suggests to the audience that he is the protagonist. There is minimal dialogue in the scene, which helps to create tension and suspicion. The dialogue is simple, but effective. 'Dick Laurent is dead' is spoken through the speaker in a low and mysterious tone.

Low key lighting is used throughout the scene. The lighting in the apartment specifically is dark, however is it light outside, so in contrast it creates a mysterious atmosphere in the building where the man is. 

There is a long point of view shot of the street which allows us to experience the situation from the protagonists point of view. When the doorbell buzzes there is an extreme close up of the protagonists eyes as it shows him calm but suggests some anxiety which adds to the tension.

Clip used for opening scene: