Ghost Ship
Throughout the opening, audio is carefully designed to mess with the feelings and emotions of the audience. A song with a slow BPM is chosen which pairs well with the slowed down video. It removes the sense of reality and time from the audience which can make audience members feel weary of their surroundings and un-safe. The video then moves on to become out of focus before focusing on several sounds.
The volume from the movement of a piece of metal wire can be heard as more dominant than all other sounds and so the audience focuses on that. A layer of blood can be seen over a metal wire which immediately gives a sense of uncertainty as to what has just happened. The camera, as a tracked movement, then begins to move around the cast although everyone is froze to give the perception of time being froze.
The audience is able to see the fear and concern on each cast member’s face and so will feel scared as to what happened. More blood can then be seen before the entire cast drops to the floor and into pieces. The sound of a girl screaming can be heard in the distance before the camera moves into darkness and effectively the unknown.
The volume from the movement of a piece of metal wire can be heard as more dominant than all other sounds and so the audience focuses on that. A layer of blood can be seen over a metal wire which immediately gives a sense of uncertainty as to what has just happened. The camera, as a tracked movement, then begins to move around the cast although everyone is froze to give the perception of time being froze.
The audience is able to see the fear and concern on each cast member’s face and so will feel scared as to what happened. More blood can then be seen before the entire cast drops to the floor and into pieces. The sound of a girl screaming can be heard in the distance before the camera moves into darkness and effectively the unknown.
Goodnight Mommy
The opening sequence for Danish physiological horror ‘Goodnight Mommy’ is split into two main parts. The beginning of it sees a traditional Danish lullaby sung by an old aged choir. Although it may not be understandable for those who do not speak Danish, it still has a big impact on the initial feeling and ideas established at the start of the film.
The song chosen sets the tone from the immediate stereotype of a classic horror movie. People expect something unknown to happen and for their minds to effectively be messed with. A shot of a young boy can then be seen where he is running through an overgrown area of land. He cannot see what is around him and so the audience may feel isolated and could fear for what is around the corner. The second character – his brother – then jumps out in a mask before a short dialogue occurs.
This small jump scare then prepares the audience physiologically for what comes later on in the film. An atmospheric audio piece can be heard in the background which gives a sense of mystery and uncertainty before the two boys can be seen walking into darkness where it is completely unknown as to what is in-front of them.
The song chosen sets the tone from the immediate stereotype of a classic horror movie. People expect something unknown to happen and for their minds to effectively be messed with. A shot of a young boy can then be seen where he is running through an overgrown area of land. He cannot see what is around him and so the audience may feel isolated and could fear for what is around the corner. The second character – his brother – then jumps out in a mask before a short dialogue occurs.
This small jump scare then prepares the audience physiologically for what comes later on in the film. An atmospheric audio piece can be heard in the background which gives a sense of mystery and uncertainty before the two boys can be seen walking into darkness where it is completely unknown as to what is in-front of them.
Insidious
The opening sequence for this more modern horror 'Insidious' has a few major components. In the beginning we as the audience can see the move through various parts of a home, which are visually off-putting with visible shadows and footsteps. This combined with the high pitched and fast paced music, prepares the viewer to be on edge right from the start, as if someone else is there and plotting something sinister (as can be seen with the plot of the movie) .
One part in particular would be when footsteps can be seen appearing and then disappearing into a dark corridor of the house, preparing those who are watching psychologically for paranormal activity of some description. As the opening sequence continues, we can see it switch to a much simpler format whilst maintaining the creepy theme. This is done by having the names of those involved in making the film appear on aged pictures of the house, adding a sort of history to things before they even begin. Finally we have the name of the film blaring in the face of the audience almost like a jump scare. This is accompanied by a bright red blood coloured text and an intense high pitched screech of music, indicating that this is what they may have to expect from the rest of the film in terms of horror.
One part in particular would be when footsteps can be seen appearing and then disappearing into a dark corridor of the house, preparing those who are watching psychologically for paranormal activity of some description. As the opening sequence continues, we can see it switch to a much simpler format whilst maintaining the creepy theme. This is done by having the names of those involved in making the film appear on aged pictures of the house, adding a sort of history to things before they even begin. Finally we have the name of the film blaring in the face of the audience almost like a jump scare. This is accompanied by a bright red blood coloured text and an intense high pitched screech of music, indicating that this is what they may have to expect from the rest of the film in terms of horror.
Final Destination 4
These are the opening credits of the 4th of the series 'Final Destination'. From the offset we hear loud fast paced music accompany the movie title, so we know that everything that will happen from that point on will happen very quickly. In this same shot we also see blood, giving the impression that this is a slasher movie, which we later on learn to be true but not in the conventional sense due to objects.
This is supported by another visual aspect of a woman who can be seen reaching for a knife in the first few seconds, adding to the idea that this may be a slasher, before it can be seen impaling her 'skeleton' adding a different twist. These films are thrillers, which include deaths of characters via mysterious events. This can be represented clearly to the audience , via the use of different X-rays of humans and objects showing them dying without the need for any gore. This sets those watching up for what they can expect to see in the rest of the film.
This is supported by another visual aspect of a woman who can be seen reaching for a knife in the first few seconds, adding to the idea that this may be a slasher, before it can be seen impaling her 'skeleton' adding a different twist. These films are thrillers, which include deaths of characters via mysterious events. This can be represented clearly to the audience , via the use of different X-rays of humans and objects showing them dying without the need for any gore. This sets those watching up for what they can expect to see in the rest of the film.
American Psycho
As soon as the opening title sequence starts there are red drops of liquid, at this point the audience do not know what liquid this is however since they went into the film knowing it was a horror of sorts and that the film is called American Psycho, the audience would assume that this red liquid dropping is in fact blood, this will make them be interested as soon as this starts because of this red liquid because they will want to know where it is coming from and because the red colour is contrasting the white background it makes their eyes instantly focus on the red liquid.
As the red liquid hits the floor, the title American Psycho appears, this makes the audience instantly know there will be some sort of blood spilled within this film. There is then a long stream of this red liquid which then is being neatly placed on the a white object, at this point the consistency of the red liquid no longer looks like blood, this starts to make the audience think about what it is again, making them doubt their initial thoughts. After the red liquid a knife suddenly appears on the screen completely clean, this makes the audience further question themselves, this knife is then seen cutting into some sort of cooked meat, this makes the audience believe that the red liquid is not actually blood.
It then shows raspberries falling, which then hits onto a plate with food, this instantly makes the audience realise that the red liquid is actually a sauce. The plate is then taken to a table, where it then shows that the scene is taken place within a restaurant. After going around the restaurant it focuses on a group of people who is made out to be the main characters and this is where the movie starts.
As the red liquid hits the floor, the title American Psycho appears, this makes the audience instantly know there will be some sort of blood spilled within this film. There is then a long stream of this red liquid which then is being neatly placed on the a white object, at this point the consistency of the red liquid no longer looks like blood, this starts to make the audience think about what it is again, making them doubt their initial thoughts. After the red liquid a knife suddenly appears on the screen completely clean, this makes the audience further question themselves, this knife is then seen cutting into some sort of cooked meat, this makes the audience believe that the red liquid is not actually blood.
It then shows raspberries falling, which then hits onto a plate with food, this instantly makes the audience realise that the red liquid is actually a sauce. The plate is then taken to a table, where it then shows that the scene is taken place within a restaurant. After going around the restaurant it focuses on a group of people who is made out to be the main characters and this is where the movie starts.
Black Swan
This opening titles sequence starts off with a drop of a black substance into a white background, it starts off quite slow most likely in real time, music then starts and it sounds like an orchestrated piece, as this music starts the black liquid starts to fall quicker. This liquid causes the audience to feel involved with the film due to the fact the black on the white is heavily contrasting, this causes the audience to focus on this liquid. The fact the black liquid has similarity to blood falling into water causes the audience to feel almost scared and disgusted of its blood like nature, this makes the audience not want to look directly at it but due to its contrasting nature the audience can't look away.
The clip then shows white feathers on a black background quickly ascending to the sky. This makes the audience feel confused as it is unnatural for feathers to fly upwards off of the floor since they are inanimate objects, this thought parallels the idea that birds have feathers and they tend to fly which would make sense that their feathers ascend into the sky, this shows the audience a contrast which isn't a visual contrast. There is then one singular black feather falling onto the white background. This contrasts the previous clip where it shows many 'pure' white feathers flying up into the sky, as now it shows one 'tainted' black feather falling onto the ground, this could have many meanings to it, such as if society sees you as 'tainted' you will never fly up and reach your dreams, as if your not 'tainted' and you are 'pure' society allows you to fly up and reach your dreams. This could show the audience that there may be a theme of being unwanted and different within this film. |
The next part of this clip shows black liquid falling onto a white fabric, the audience may relate this liquid to the first black liquid within this clip, and therefore it gives the idea of this being blood like. Due to this black liquid having this blood like nature and it falls on this white material which looks quite similar to bandages, this makes the audience relate this black liquid to the fact it must be falling from a wound, and therefore it makes the audience feel confused about where this is coming from and why is it 'bleeding' so much. The video then goes onto three real clips, the first one being someone filing their nails, this presents the idea of wanting to look good, maybe to the extent of looking perfect, this is further backed up from the next scene where it shows a mirror next to make up, this can further back up the idea of wanting to look better. This also presents the idea of hiding behind something, in this case make up.
The next clip from this little sequence shows someone repairing ballet shoes, this can also link to the idea of wanting to look 'perfect' because both the idea of fixing something broken, and ballet gives a sense of perfection within their dancing. The rest of the video goes back to the idea of the feathers falling and the black liquid falling but putting more of a chaos turn to it. This makes the audience feel that near the end of the movie there will be a sense of chaos. During the last parts of the video it shows the word 'Whore' written with the lipstick previously shown in the clip. This links with the idea of being 'Tainted' within society as the idea of being tainted links with the though of being a whore as a lot of people tend to slut shame people, females especially, for sleeping around as people believe that because of this they are thought to be tainted. The fact the lipstick was what was used to write the word whore links with the idea of trying to hide your self when actually there is no true way to hide within society.
The next clip from this little sequence shows someone repairing ballet shoes, this can also link to the idea of wanting to look 'perfect' because both the idea of fixing something broken, and ballet gives a sense of perfection within their dancing. The rest of the video goes back to the idea of the feathers falling and the black liquid falling but putting more of a chaos turn to it. This makes the audience feel that near the end of the movie there will be a sense of chaos. During the last parts of the video it shows the word 'Whore' written with the lipstick previously shown in the clip. This links with the idea of being 'Tainted' within society as the idea of being tainted links with the though of being a whore as a lot of people tend to slut shame people, females especially, for sleeping around as people believe that because of this they are thought to be tainted. The fact the lipstick was what was used to write the word whore links with the idea of trying to hide your self when actually there is no true way to hide within society.