Opening Analysis of Horror Films

1. The Exorcist (1974)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYBaRtOrBg

Sound

• At the beginning of the title sequence, the director uses a loud monotonic sound, allowing the audience to automatically feel uncomfortable. This use of music makes the audience feel uncomfortable because the music is quite loud, making the audience automatically feel nerved because they weren't expecting something so loud at the beginning of the movie.

• As the movie went along, we start to hear the screeching sound of a violin. This happens as the opening credits start to appear on the screen. This piercing sound of the violin makes the audience feel more uncomfortable because the violin builds up tension for the audience as they try to expect something to happen at the end of the title sequence, making them uncomfortable and unnerved throughout the entirety of the title sequence.

Mise-en-scene

• At the beginning on the title sequence, we can see that the setting for the film is in a big city such as London, set in the olden times (around about the Victorian Era). This is uncommon for a horror film because the big city is not a stereotypical setting for a horror film, as horror films tend to be set in haunting places, such as the woods or an abandoned house.

• Towards the end of title sequence, we can see that the colour of the visuals change from black and white into a colour screen, making it more inviting for the audience. This is unusual for a horror film because with a horror film, they tend to make an audience uncomfortable for the entire film with a variety of different techniques, so making the film seem more warming for the audience takes away that classic element of a horror film.

Camerawork

• At the end of the title sequence, there is an establishing shot of the shadows of a woods, with the sun being in the foreground. This use of camerawork makes the audience unnerved because in reality, the sun is not typically that big when a viewer of the film sees it, so it makes them feel uncomfortable as to why the sun is this big in the film.

• Before the credits start to appear on the screen, there is a close up shot of a statue, more commonly found in church. This camera shot can make the audience feel uncomfortable because with the statue also being black and white, it implies that the statue is a significant part of the film, making the audience feel uncomfortable as to why the statue is a significant part of the film.

Editing

• For the opening credits, they are portrayed in a bright red colour. This makes the audience feel unnerved with the film because the colour red has connotations of blood and danger, implying to the audience that this film could make them uncomfortable.

• Also, the style of the credits are very straight and vertical, making the audience questioning why the credits are so straight. This use of credits makes the audience feel uncomfortable because with the straight and upright credit, they imply that the movie plotline will go as planned as how the director wanted it to go, in terms of scaring the audience.

2. Paranormal Activity (2007)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMLE7tM6Bb0

Sound

• Throughout the entirety of the opening sequence, the director uses a classic piece of ballet music, commonly found in jewellery boxes, and has slowed it down to create an atmosphere of tension. This makes the audience tense and uncomfortable because as the slow piece of music goes on and on, they are expecting something big to happen. When this doesn't happen, they are left feeling uncomfortable for the rest of the film.

• Throughout odd moments in the opening sequence, there were strange noises contrasting from the main piece of music playing, for example: the wind/fire and heavy breathing. These odd noises can make the audience feel tense because when they come out of nowhere, they feel as if they are part of the film themselves, making them even more uncomfortable than they already are.

Mise-en-scene

• From the odd moments that there are visuals on the screen, the audience can see that the film is set in a house, making them feel tense. This setting makes the audience feel tense because a house is an iconic and stereotypical setting for a classic horror, making the audience tense as to what is about to happen next.

• The costumes of the actors (from what we can see) are normal clothing, making it relatable for the audience. However, this also could make them unnerved. This is because with the actors wearing normal clothes, it can make the audience feel as if they are part of the movie as well due to them wearing normal clothes, making them unnerved due to them not wanting to be apart of a horror film.

Camerawork

• Majority of the camera shots that are used are close up of various different body parts and objects. Some examples include: feet whilst walking down the stairs; face whilst sleeping; and hand shutting the door. This can make the audience feel uncomfortable because it is as if the camera are the audience's eyes, getting closer into the action, making them feel uncomfortable but wanting to watch more.

Editing

• All of the action shots that are featured in this title sequence have been slown down, in order to create an effect of tension and an unnervingly silent atmosphere. This can make the audience feel tense because with the action being slown down, they wait to see if anything will pick up to the speed which they want it to be at, so when it doesn't they can sit uncomfortably for the entire film.

3. Insidious (2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1e1feo4DUk

Sound

• From the beginning of the opening titles to when the main title of the film appears on the screen, there is a slow build-up in the music where it starts of slow and quiet, but eventually gets louder and faster until it gets to the the title of the film where it reaches it's loudest and fastest. This can make the audience feel tense because during this build up, it makes the audience wait to see what happens at the big moment, but because there is a slow build up to it, the audience are shocked when it gets to the main point.

• During the actor's credits, you can hear a faint scream (believed to be a woman's scream) which gets louder and louder until the last part of the credits. This makes the audience feel unnerved because they have no idea where this scream is coming from, making them feel apart of this terrifying film for them.

Mise-en-scene

• The setting of the film appears to be in a house, which is a stereotypical setting for a supernatural horror story. This can make the audience of the film feel tense and in suspense because when a horror film is set in a house or a familiar setting for the audience, it can make them feel as if they are apart of the film, making them tense throughout all of the film.

• The lighting used in the action shots seems to be low key lighting, very dark and very ominous. This use of lighting can make the audience feel tense about the film because they will not be able to see a lot of things that are happening on screen, making them worry about if something is going to jump out at them.

Camerawork

• At the beginning of the title sequence, the director uses a long shot of a small boy in bed asleep. This shot can make an audience feel creeped out because it is unfamiliar for them to see this, making them feel unsettled in their seats, setting a tone for the entirety of the film.

• After the long shot of the boy sleeping, it goes into a tracking shot down a corridor towards what is believed to be a picture on the wall of a scary looking man. This tracking shot can make the audience feel tense because from when the camera leaves the boy on the bed, the audience are slowly awaiting to see where the camera is going, making them feel nervous.

Editing

• The credits for this film are all written in the colour red, implying that this film is highly scary and terrifying for the audience. This use of colour can make the audience feel tense because the colour red has connotations with danger, anger, death and blood, which can all be classed as iconic parts of a horror film.