The opening starts off with a mid-shot of the tree and its branches. The trees have no leaves indicating it may be winters day.Behind the trees it is misty/foggy suggesting that something ominous is about to take place. Showing the shots of the scene allows the audience to get a feel of the setting. It is a sort of backdrop for the first two opening titles which appear in a bold black, white outlined font. The camera does not start moving until 0:44, changing into an establishing shot, zooming and lowering, to a frame filled with a view of trees from a high angle. It is the backdrop for the title of the film.
At 1:08, a figure appears in the distance. This builds up anticipation as the audience are unaware of who the figure is. and makes her way up toward the camera, as though she is running away from something which creates a tense atmosphere. The establishing shot transforms into a long shot of the character rising; and we get a close-up of the characters exhausted expression. The next frame involves the camera following the character running away through a forest. This also adds to a feeling of apprehension as she is running so fast. At 1:45 the characters disappears into the distance, which turns into various tracking shots. At 2.10 the camera goes back to following the character from behind. Each time, the camera gets a little closer to the character, introducing her to the audience. She looks determined to finish her course, not giving up.
As the character climbs up a climbing frame, the camera takes a 180 degree shot, from the back of the frame to the front, slowly rising while doing so. She then runs away from the camera and disappears into the foggy distance once again. Another character enters into the frame. We get a mid-shot of the back of the unknown character, which creates suspicion, as it gets the audience wondering who the character is. They exchange dialogue. The new characters face is revealed. After the girl runs off, we see his face expression, looking concerned yet so calm. His cap says FBI which may change the audience's perception of the female character, leading them to think that she is part of the FBI, and that her journey so far has just been an exercise or training course. We are left unknown as to where she is going, which keeps the audience gripped.
Th There is then a medium/closeup which reveals four name plates saying 'hurt, agony, pain and love-it.’ These may be the themes that are represented in the film. The name plates seem to also relate to the course. It may be encouraging the person to finish the track, and not give up, however hard it is.
The camera quickly changes into various tracking shots of the girl running to and entering building of some sort. The audience are still left unknown as to where she is heading to, which again creates anticipation. She passes a group of males in black clothing, jogging or climbing up ropes. It looks like a training camp. There is a establishing shot of buildings. The camera lens then focuses on a window of one the buildings that the female entered. Titles are still appearing. The frame then changes into a medium shot of a pair of legs pacing down a staircase.
After this there are various other shots of her walking through the building, showing the audience the surrounding areas. The camera then follows her, as she walks through corridors looking around. She seems in a hurry. This creates tension, as the viewer does not know where she is heading to. On her way, there is a mid shot of her entering an elevator, full of men dressed in red tops. This gives a feeling of being trapped, and uneasiness. The corridors she walks through are quite narrow and cramped. Some dialogue is then exchanged with the women and a man, dressed in a suit.
She then enters a room, which is what seems to be at the end of the corridor. It is an office. She wonders around the room. As she does this, the audience is able to get a view of the office, seeing different objects that may reveal or represent the genre. The actress then stops, and the shot changes into a close-up of the lady's face expression which looks speechless. The shot changes, into a long shot showing many murder articles and images pinned to a wall.
