Opening Title Sequence Analysis
The Woman In Black (2012)
The opening sequence of The Woman In Black (2012) shows 3 children having a tea party which saw the scene getting straight into the action. Throughout the scene a non-diegetic sound is being played in the background, the sound is scary and mysterious. The sound adds tension to the scene. The setting for the opening sequence of The Woman In Black is set in a decaying mansion. The setting matches Carol Clovers theory on Horror settings. Carol Clover was a Theorist who suggested that Horror should be set in decaying Houses as they are perceived by the audience to have a history behind them.
Wes Cravens theory however was that if the setting is in a safe place is less obvious therefore more effective. Usually in all horror films the films are set in mysterious locations in the countryside. Wes Craven however does the opposite he chooses to film in schools, homes. The reason why is because homes and schools are considered to be the safest place. Another theory of Wes Craven which clashed in the opening scene of The Woman In Black, is how throughout the scene it shows an absence of parents. Parents are thought of to keep children safe which without them they're defenceless. In the opening scene it shows a close up of a cup smashing, the cracking of the china is symbolic to the cracking of the children's bones later in that scene. In the scene it also has dull lighting which made the house look more dull and lifeless. In the scene there is also no emotional connection between the 3 children. Carol Clover had another theory which said stated we as the audience copy what is on screen. For example in The Woman In Black when the children jump out the window we react as the parents react and scream.
(KD)
Wes Cravens theory however was that if the setting is in a safe place is less obvious therefore more effective. Usually in all horror films the films are set in mysterious locations in the countryside. Wes Craven however does the opposite he chooses to film in schools, homes. The reason why is because homes and schools are considered to be the safest place. Another theory of Wes Craven which clashed in the opening scene of The Woman In Black, is how throughout the scene it shows an absence of parents. Parents are thought of to keep children safe which without them they're defenceless. In the opening scene it shows a close up of a cup smashing, the cracking of the china is symbolic to the cracking of the children's bones later in that scene. In the scene it also has dull lighting which made the house look more dull and lifeless. In the scene there is also no emotional connection between the 3 children. Carol Clover had another theory which said stated we as the audience copy what is on screen. For example in The Woman In Black when the children jump out the window we react as the parents react and scream.
(KD)
The Ring (2002)
Opening title sequence of 'The Ring' (2002) (watch up until 7:30.
The Opening title sequence of The Ring (2002) Starts out with an establishing shot of two teenage girls watching television, the film being located in a safe place portrays Wes Cravens theory that the most scariest things can happen in the safest places. We see our houses as a safe place to go. The lighting in the establishing shot is just natural lighting however it is very low key, highlighting the fact its a horror and its predictably dark. The girls then begin to gossip, discussing this video tape that if you watch it, you die within 7 days. At this point of the opening title sequence there is no sound at all. This is to make the audience feel on edge slightly and to get the gist of what the films based around.
As one of the girls start to explain what happens if you watch the tape, there is an over the shoulder camera shot of her, and it slowly pans in closer but without you realising, to completely catch the person thats watching it's attention. It continues panning in towards the girls face and then switches over to the the other girl, using the 180 degree angle rule, to another over the shoulder shot of the second girl looking frightened as she tells her friend she has watched the tape.
The first few different camera shots are located in a bedroom, a typically safe environment, encouraging the audience to feel relaxed. The girls are both trying to spook one another as one of the girls fakes choking, as they continue gossiping about private occurrences. They gossip about how whether she 'did anything' this portrays Wheeler Winston Dixon' theory that men and women can be sites of activity and that we learn only slight information about them but enough to know them briefly as characters, it also portrays Carol Clovers theory of woman being the victim because they're attractive and therefore 'deserve to die'. The rest of the opening title sequence also involves the setting of a typically safe environment portraying a sense of protection.
Continuing on from this scene the phone rings and there is a shot of the girls bare legs, again portraying sights of activity because they're both wearing short skirts. There is a long shot of the girls with the phone shown in a blur to the left hand side, when one of the girls answers the phone it comes into focus showing the main object within the scene. Following the girls previous conversation the phone is seen as something that could potentially cause her death.
Following on from the phone call which ended up being her parents. There is a 'double-bluff'. A double-bluff is when you think something is going to happen but it doesn't. This is shown in the scene with a fridge door. Her friend goes upstairs and she is left alone in the kitchen, this girl being the site of activity, us as an audience would expect something to be on the other side of the fridge door, however there isn't. This is to make us as an audience feel frightened and unaware of whats coming next.
Another important shot of this scene is when the girl peers around the corner and looks up the stairs. This is a high angle shot showing intimidation and the girls vulnerability. Using this particular shots makes us as an audience feel sympathy and regret for what may happen to the girl because somethings clearly come about from the tape she has watched.
The scene continues onto another shot showing half of the girls body. Showing her bare, thin legs and focusing on the puddle of water on the floor. Following this scene a panning/zoom camera shot is used to highlight the fact she has watched the cursed video and has died within the 7 days after watching it.
(AC)
Zombieland (2009)
We also looked at other opening title sequences from the zombie horror genre and thought Zombieland's was particularly effective. We get the impression from the sequence that it is not meant to be taken extremely seriously, this is suggested by the use of irony, the slow motion effect and also the heavy, asynchronous soundtrack.
The opening title sequence uses red for its titles which is a very conventional horror colour as it has connotations of blood and death. This also works very well to compliment the extreme use of blood in the opening title sequence.
The sequence begins with a long shot of two vehicles crashing and a woman being catapulted from her car with the dialogue 'fasten your seatbelts'. This is an example of irony as the woman was clearly not wearing a seatbelt and suggests immediately that the opening title sequence will not be completely serious.
The opening title sequence for Zombieland (2009) uses a wide variety of different shots which is very similar to the opening title sequence we plan to make. These shots are also all played in slow motion, this gives the audience many different views of the zombies which causes fear. Some particularly effective shots are used throughout the sequence that follow conventions.
The opening title sequence uses red for its titles which is a very conventional horror colour as it has connotations of blood and death. This also works very well to compliment the extreme use of blood in the opening title sequence.
The sequence begins with a long shot of two vehicles crashing and a woman being catapulted from her car with the dialogue 'fasten your seatbelts'. This is an example of irony as the woman was clearly not wearing a seatbelt and suggests immediately that the opening title sequence will not be completely serious.
The opening title sequence for Zombieland (2009) uses a wide variety of different shots which is very similar to the opening title sequence we plan to make. These shots are also all played in slow motion, this gives the audience many different views of the zombies which causes fear. Some particularly effective shots are used throughout the sequence that follow conventions.
A mid shot of a zombie spitting blood is used to scare the audience and it really highlights the zombie sub genre. It also grosses out the audience and it suggests that the film will include a lot of gore. I think the use of a fairly close mid shot is effective as the shot would not be as powerful if it was a long shot, for example.
(MG)
(MG)
Sinister (2012)
The opening title sequence for Sinister (2012) is very different from the one we plan to produce, for example the sequence is made using just one shot only. The opening title sequence starts by fading from black to an image of four people tied by the necks to a tree. This chilling shot immediately alarms the audience and causes a great fear. At first it appears to be a still image with little movement bar the flickering of the camera, however the branch then snaps and the four people are hoisted up. The whole shot is in slow motion which makes the opening title sequence even more shocking and distressing for the audience as we see the four people struggle. The editing of the opening title sequence is very effective. The sequence is made a dark, eerie, sinister colour which intensifies the subject of the shots. Also, it is made to look like an old film from a video camera. This is due to the flashing markings at the side and also the flickering of the picture. The sound is also used to create this effect as there is a constant noise throughout the sequence of a crackling and jumpy tape. This suggests that home made films may play a part in the rest of the film. Another massive contrast between Sinister's opening title sequence and the one we plan to make is that it only features one title, the film name. The name flashes at the end of the sequence in white font. When the title appears the picture moves and reveals the side of a reel of film, once again suggesting that home videos may have a link to the film.
(MG)