How does Double Indemnity use compositional techniques?

Figure 1

Double Indemnity uses compositional techniques such as German Expressionism to create a sense of entrapment around the character, due to the straight lines/edges and shadows used in scene, such as in figure 1. This not only presents the character as trapped but also creates an enigma about the place, because everything is covered in shadows and it's difficult/disorientating to look at.
This creates a sense of confusion in the scene for the audience and therefore makes the shot enigmatic as it is difficult to see.

Double Indemnity also uses chiaroscuro lighting to hide the real identity of the characters through the use of shadows contrasting with the light. This is because it makes the character seem as if he has a good side to him yet is shrouded in darkness of something he has done in his life, such as committed a murder, so the shadows and chiaroscuro lighting becomes a metaphor for the darkness in his life.

Figure 2

In figure 2, the use of the venation blinds creates a sort of prison bars effect, which makes the characters seem imprisoned and entering a "criminal world", and could be foreshadowing this the end result (prison). The dark intense shadow from the woman in figure 2 could suggest how she is a femme fuetal character, who is leading the Walter Neff to a bad place/criminal world. The dark shadow emphasises the evil within her and how she should not be trusted.

The director of "Se7en" also uses an enigma to create tension, because the opening sequence tells us a lot about the characters and very little about the story, so the audience has no idea what will happen later on in the film. This creates tension because it keeps the audience guessing about what the plot is. The props used in the film, such as the metronome creates lots of tension because the constant, annoying sound of the ticking every second makes the audience wonder why it is used and what it is ticking for, as it could be a metaphor for time ticking down, but yet the audience don't know what it is ticking down for. This creates tension as it is an unknown quantity in the film however is clearly important.

Finally, the director of "Se7en" uses an enigma to keep the audience watching and entice them into the film. The way in which everything about the film in the opening sequence (pre-title) is mysterious keeps the audience interested in the film and why everything is as it is. In the opening sequence, we learn about how the city/location is clearly a crime-ridden city through the use of constant background noises, such as dogs barking and people shouting, or just the constant rain that is outside. This creates a constant enigma about the film which keeps the audience constantly watching as there isn't many points in the film where all is quiet and where things seem "normal", which keeps the audience on the edge of there seats wanting to find out more. 

Se7en: How does the director use an enigma?

The director of the film "Se7en" uses an enigma to create confusion and expectation amongst the audience. The director does this by using an opening sequence that shows many objects and props that are made to look important yet the audience doesn't know what they are used for or why they are there, yet expects these objects to be used later on in the film. For example, in the shot with the knife, pen, badge and paper rose, these are all random objects that would seem to have some meaning/use, yet the audience isn't told what they are for or why they are there. However this also creates an idea in the viewers mind about what Sommerset is like, but only small parts of his personality, which creates an enigma around him. The objects create confusion they don't necessarily fit together as objects, and so confuses the audience as to why they are there and whats so important about them, which again leads to the expectancy of the objects. 

The director of "Se7en" also uses an enigma to create tension, because the opening sequence tells us a lot about the characters and very little about the story, so the audience has no idea what will happen later on in the film. This creates tension because it keeps the audience guessing about what the plot is. The props used in the film, such as the metronome creates lots of tension because the constant, annoying sound of the ticking every second makes the audience wonder why it is used and what it is ticking for, as it could be a metaphor for time ticking down, but yet the audience don't know what it is ticking down for. This creates tension as it is an unknown quantity in the film however is clearly important.
Finally, the director of "Se7en" uses an enigma to keep the audience watching and entice them into the film. The way in which everything about the film in the opening sequence (pre-title) is mysterious keeps the audience interested in the film and why everything is as it is. In the opening sequence, we learn about how the city/location is clearly a crime-ridden city through the use of constant background noises, such as dogs barking and people shouting, or just the constant rain that is outside. This creates a constant enigma about the film which keeps the audience constantly watching as there isn't many points in the film where all is quiet and where things seem "normal", which keeps the audience on the edge of there seats wanting to find out more.