Why The First Twilight Film Looks So Different From The Rest Of The Series

As the only film in the franchise directed by a woman, "Twilight" has Catherine Hardwicke at the helm, whose previous work includes "Thirteen" and "Lords of Dogtown." A few different directors came on to direct the subsequent films, but Hardwicke brought a distinct style to the franchise with her choices in "Twilight." The main feature that allows the first film to stand out from the rest is the blue filter that is present throughout the whole movie, painting the story in blues and grays and other cool colors. The reason for this choice was to create the dreary feeling of Forks — the rainy home of a family of vampires in hiding — as well as emphasize the paleness of the Cullens and the cold exterior they put on for Bella when they first meet.

Considering that Hardwicke was forced to cut $4 million from the movie's budget just a few days before shooting, she definitely made do with what she was given (via Vanity Fair). The same cool-toned coloring style is present in her previous film "Thirteen" as well, making it a signature for the director. Speaking with the Daily Beast 10 years after "Twilight" premiered, Hardwicke discussed how the movie wasn't expected to be successful in any way. She was originally given the job because of this fact, so once the franchise got popular and started making money, Hardwicke was left behind and replaced with white male directors moving forward, which was why she didn't direct any more "Twilight" films.