My group and I decided to research different title sequences from opening scenes in horror movies. To research, I decided to choose the movie Dead Silence. This is a horror movie that I found on Art of the Title website. I choose this movie because the title sequence fits perfectly with the movie and makes sense to the plot.
1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
In the movie Dead Silence, there were in total of 21 titles in the opening sequence. These included a quote and other important jobs that played a part in the film like the producer, casting agent, director, etc.
2. What images are prioritized in the opening scene?
There weren’t many images placed in the film, mostly videos. But there were times when the video would freeze on something important to the plot, that they wanted the audience to know. For example, the whole opening scene was a man making the doll which was the main focus of the film and sometimes it would stop on images of sketches of different dolls that were being made. This might’ve been prioritized because they wanted the audience to see how the doll was made.
3. What connotations do the images carry?
The images that were prioritized in the opening sequence had a creepy and horrific connotation to them. The images enhanced the already created creepy and unsettling feeling that the commercial already had.
4. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
When it comes to technical codes, the genre was reinforced by them using camera angles to their advantage. Throughput the opening there was a man making a doll and most of the time, the camera was a POV. And all it showed was the, and hands making the doll. And in some scenes, it wasn’t exactly a POV shot but it still never showed his face and only showed his hands. This might’ve been done to show the character and foreshadow a type of mystery or importance that he has throughout the film. They also used symbolic codes by showing a quote at the beginning of the sequence. This could symbolize what the film could mean and the lesson in it. This could also provide some background information.
5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The film establishes an enigma from the outset but showing the man’s hands and not revealing his identity. By doing so they developed a creepy and mysterious figure that the audience will start to question as the movie carries on. They also develop the enigma of the doll. This is because while the doll is being made, they could question if it’s going to bring good or bad to the film and what its role is going to be.
6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The main strategy that as used to appeal to the audience was the score. The score really engaged the audience and again added onto the terrifying feeling of the movie. Since the audience is watching the movie they obviously want to be scared, so by using this scary music, it will appeal to the audience by adding to the effect. They also use colors to scare the audience more. The whole opening sequence was in black and white and the titles were in red, so the black and white with red titles engage the audience into a scarier mood.
7. How has technology been used effectively?
In this opening sequence technology has been used very effectively. There were many transitions used in the sequence to go from one clip to another. They used lots of dissolves and slides to do so. They also used angles and shots effectively. There were lots of jump cuts used to show the passing of time when the man was making the doll. And the whole sequence the camera was either shot at a POV or eye-level angle. But overall technology was used very efficiently because it added to the genre and all aspects made sense to the sequence.
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