What filmmaking techniques does The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo use?

CineCode breaks down 4 techniques in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011): Title Sequence as Manifesto, Forensic Inference Narration, Color Palette as Worldbuilding and Electronic Score.

Who directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

David Fincher directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, released in 2011. CineCode also covers Alien³ (1992), Se7en (1995), The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Panic Room (2002), Zodiac (2007).

What films are similar to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

Films that share techniques with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo include Fargo (1996), Her (2013), Se7en (1995), The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Mystery · Crime · Thriller

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

David Fincher, 2011

Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist is hired to find out what happened to a rich family's niece, who vanished about 40 years ago. He teams up with hacker Lisbeth Salander, and their search turns up a series of murders. It is a cold, procedural thriller, and the opening credits are worth watching on their own.

1 Editing 1 Narrative 1 Cinematography 1 Sound

At a glance

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 mystery, crime and thriller film directed by David Fincher. This breakdown covers 4 techniques (1 editing, 1 narrative, 1 cinematography and 1 sound), each with the scene where you can see it. If you like how it is made, Fargo uses several of the same techniques.

Editing

Title Sequence as Manifesto

Using the opening titles to set up the film's look, tone and psychological feel before the story starts. The sequence is a short preview of the whole style.

How this film uses it

Blur Studio made the opening credits, set to a cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It is a short burst of dark, violent imagery that tells you how harsh and stylized this film will be.

Where to see it

The opening credits. A cover of 'Immigrant Song' plays over fast, dark imagery before the story begins.

Narrative

Forensic Inference Narration

Revealing character and motive through physical evidence and a detective's step-by-step reasoning, with no confessions or backstory dumps. You piece together the truth alongside the investigator.

How this film uses it

Blomkvist and Salander work through files, photos and old records to solve a case with no confession in sight. Their research ties a series of murders of young women to Bible verses. You learn the pattern as they do.

Where to see it

The Bible-verse link. Blomkvist and Salander connect murders of young women across decades to Bible verses.

Cinematography

Color Palette as Worldbuilding

Limiting the film to a tightly chosen set of colors, or giving each place or state its own set. The colors tell you about the world and its mood without dialogue.

How this film uses it

Cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth shot with RED MX digital cameras and aimed for a realistic look with cold, low winter light. Sweden feels pale, grey and tough, and the family's island estate looks as closed off as the secrets inside it.

Where to see it

The Vanger estate. Blomkvist works on the family's island estate while he looks for what happened to Harriet.

Sound

Electronic Score

Scoring with synthesizers, club beats or electronic instruments. The texture can suggest a period, a mood or a character's inner state.

How this film uses it

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won a Grammy for the score. Its electronic textures match the freezing Swedish setting and raise dread without telling you when to feel it.

Where to see it

The confrontation with Martin. Martin captures Blomkvist, and Salander arrives to save him.

Questions

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: quick answers

What filmmaking techniques does The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo use?: CineCode breaks down 4 techniques in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011): Title Sequence as Manifesto, Forensic Inference Narration, Color Palette as Worldbuilding and Electronic Score.
Who directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?: David Fincher directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, released in 2011. CineCode also covers Alien³ (1992), Se7en (1995), The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Panic Room (2002), Zodiac (2007).
What films are similar to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?: Films that share techniques with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo include Fargo (1996), Her (2013), Se7en (1995), The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

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