A build up to the action –
Near to the end of the film, “The narrator” is attempting to dismantle a bomb. As he is trying to calculate which wires to unplug, his heartbeat is heard. This is a classic way of building tension while watching. The ticking of the bomb also does the same thing as it almost has the same effect as a heartbeat. It creates suspense and tension as the audience is waiting for the end very carefully.

Creation of fear/apprehension/anticipation/unsettling feeling/confusion/doubt over a character –
The character of Tyler is never clearly represented. His past is never revealed, and what is revealed about him has little detail or depth. However, “The Narrator” (or the main character) never reveals his real name, and hardly any of his past is revealed either. So this then links to the fact that in the end, they are the same person.

Dark, shadowy atmosphere (use of light and dark images) –
The whole first scene is very dark, mysterious and eerie. This is used because it automatically begins the film with an unsettling atmosphere.

Here is an example of the darkness of the first scene.

Establishing mood and atmosphere throughout the film –
As the character is describing his dull and boring life, the colours are also dull and bland. There is a lot of greyness throughout the description.

Throughout the film there is an uneasiness caused by the emptiness of the characters and the dull look of the film. The acting from Brad Pitt creates a menacing character that the audience can tell is not very trustworthy and is quietly devilish.

Delay in showing the face of a significant character, or the action of an important event by showing a specific part of the body of the character –
In the first scene, the identity of “Tyler” is hidden by not showing his face, and only his body parts and his back. This is effective as the audience questions who this character is, and why he has “The Narrator” tied up.

Creation of suspense using soundtrack –
The sounds in the first scene have all got an echo added to them. It makes the room that they are in seem large, and also makes the two characters seem insignificant and small. It also presents that the two characters are alone, and may even be referring to the fact that in the end, they are the same person.
After you first find out he has insomnia, he says “I couldn’t sleep”. This then repeats, but gradually gets quieter and quieter until it cannot be heard. This may represent that once again that he keeps repeating things in his head, going over why he cannot sleep. It may also show that his mind is empty and so the thought echoes.

Specific effective camera angles –
When you see the main character lying in bed awake, you see the mess of his bed and the things lying randomly around it. This symbolises that he cannot sleep and that his mind is hectic (or not “tidy”) when he tries to fall asleep.

Editing techniques –
During the first scene there is a series of images from around the building. Each shot zooms from one to the other as if the camera is really moving very fast from each place to the next. This creates special awareness and presents where each place is in comparison to the characters. It also acts as a “Picture book” to the story the narrator is telling as each shot comes up as the narrator describes it.
A very clever editing technique is that Brad Pitt occasionally appears on the screen for a split second before the main narrator meets him. This subliminally tells the audience that the narrator is already beginning to create the character of Tyler within his own mind.