Monday 20 October 2014
Thursday 16 October 2014
Close Analysis of Horror Openings
I am going to be watching 5 different
horror film openings and analysing the action that takes place, print styles
and sound in all of them. The films openings I have chosen are:
o Psycho
o Dark Skies
o Evil Dead
o The Shining
o House at the End of the Street
Action
Horror films tend to be opened in various ways. We are usually opened with a prelude where we see the same character or location that we are going to see in the main film. This is to create dramatic irony for the viewer where the viewer may know more than the character in the film. However many films before preludes became popular, opened with credits, like Psycho (1960).
In the opening to Psycho we are introduced to the main title credits. This is shown in a different and more interesting way than other films before Psycho were. Furthermore, the audience are able to establish the genre from the opening. We see fragmented bars that are splitting text in half that suggests Psychos fragmented mind and split personality. The way the lines and text enter the screen suggests a knife, linking to the theme and once again the genre. The names are also not revealed straight away reflected the concealed nature of the killer; Psycho hides his true identity as someone else. The opening of Psycho is very different to openings of films that are made today, for example, Dark Skies.
In the opening to Dark Skies we are introduced to a street located in Suburban America; suggesting this is where the action will mostly take place in the film. On this street we see how people imagine Suburban America to be; lively and sunny. This subverts the audiences expectations of a horror film as we expect the film to begin in a dark, isolated area which is the complete opposite of what we see. Then a straight cut is used and we see fire from the burgers the father is cooking on the barbecue. The fire is significant in the scene where we are introduced to the family as it suggests something bad is going to happen to the family as fire is usually linked to death. They all look happy and content with their lives, but knowing this is a horror film, all this is about to change.
The opening to Evil Dead can be compared to Psycho as we are introduced to the main actors and producers with things going on in the background as apose to Dark Skies where we are introduced to the main film in the opening. In the opening to Evil Dead we see iconography used very effectively. According to Bordwell and Thompson’s theory iconography can be defined as “recurring symbolic images that carry meaning from film to film”. Red and black are the only colours used throughout the opening, with the orange from the fire used towards the end. Red connotes blood and can be associated with danger and war. Whilst black can be associate with power, evil and mystery. We see blood, spikes, knives and chains in the opening suggesting this film is going to be a slasher horror. The blood splashes throughout the opening suggests there will be some gruesome scenes ahead, for example, the tearing of limbs. Towards the end we see orange flames that suggest a theme of the devil and again establishes the genre of the film of horror. There is also a quick flash of a wall with the words "your soul" handwritten on again, suggesting to the devil. Iconography of a horror film has also been used in an earlier film, the Shining.
In the opening of The Shining the camera first zooms into an isolated island in the middle of a lake suggesting this film will be based around isolation (iconography). We are then introduced to a car driving up a mountain, getting closer to an unknown destination. We see the car drive through woodland areas suggesting the mystery of where he may be going and fear of the unknown. The audience does not know where the car is going and who is driving the car. Throughout the whole opening we only see a few other cars, the car the camera is following is almost alone and isolated. Although we do not see who is driving the car, we realise who ever it is, is the main character as the camera is only following them. We also realise the car has been travelling for a while as the snow on the mountain represents how high he has travelled; the higher the driver gets, the more isolated they are. At the end of the opening we see the hotel the driver has been travelling to, it is isolated and in the middle of no-where which meets the audiences expectations of a horror film.
Although we are introduced to the main film straight away in the opening to Dark Skies and The Shining, In the opening to House at the End of the Street we are introduced to a prelude. A method many 21st century horror films directors use. We first see a house and snow falling from the sky then a child’s eye in the background of this. We then realise that the house is in a snow globe that the child is holding. We only see one of her eyes suggesting the devil which tells the audience that she is evil, and we realise she is when she kills both her parents for no apparent reason. As she kills her father on his bed we see feathers from pillows hit the floor. The feathers go from white to red as they are covered in blood. This suggests the loss of innocence and childhood from the girl; the white connotes purity whereas red connotes danger. Throughout the opening there are glitches where it quickly changes to a thermal camera effect. This suggests what the girl sees in her mind as she is far from normal. At the end of the opening we see the girl run off into the woods, leaving many possibilities open for the audience to work out what happens next and to keep them on the edge of their seats.
Print Styles
o Psycho
o Dark Skies
o Evil Dead
o The Shining
o House at the End of the Street
Action
Horror films tend to be opened in various ways. We are usually opened with a prelude where we see the same character or location that we are going to see in the main film. This is to create dramatic irony for the viewer where the viewer may know more than the character in the film. However many films before preludes became popular, opened with credits, like Psycho (1960).
In the opening to Psycho we are introduced to the main title credits. This is shown in a different and more interesting way than other films before Psycho were. Furthermore, the audience are able to establish the genre from the opening. We see fragmented bars that are splitting text in half that suggests Psychos fragmented mind and split personality. The way the lines and text enter the screen suggests a knife, linking to the theme and once again the genre. The names are also not revealed straight away reflected the concealed nature of the killer; Psycho hides his true identity as someone else. The opening of Psycho is very different to openings of films that are made today, for example, Dark Skies.
In the opening to Dark Skies we are introduced to a street located in Suburban America; suggesting this is where the action will mostly take place in the film. On this street we see how people imagine Suburban America to be; lively and sunny. This subverts the audiences expectations of a horror film as we expect the film to begin in a dark, isolated area which is the complete opposite of what we see. Then a straight cut is used and we see fire from the burgers the father is cooking on the barbecue. The fire is significant in the scene where we are introduced to the family as it suggests something bad is going to happen to the family as fire is usually linked to death. They all look happy and content with their lives, but knowing this is a horror film, all this is about to change.
The opening to Evil Dead can be compared to Psycho as we are introduced to the main actors and producers with things going on in the background as apose to Dark Skies where we are introduced to the main film in the opening. In the opening to Evil Dead we see iconography used very effectively. According to Bordwell and Thompson’s theory iconography can be defined as “recurring symbolic images that carry meaning from film to film”. Red and black are the only colours used throughout the opening, with the orange from the fire used towards the end. Red connotes blood and can be associated with danger and war. Whilst black can be associate with power, evil and mystery. We see blood, spikes, knives and chains in the opening suggesting this film is going to be a slasher horror. The blood splashes throughout the opening suggests there will be some gruesome scenes ahead, for example, the tearing of limbs. Towards the end we see orange flames that suggest a theme of the devil and again establishes the genre of the film of horror. There is also a quick flash of a wall with the words "your soul" handwritten on again, suggesting to the devil. Iconography of a horror film has also been used in an earlier film, the Shining.
In the opening of The Shining the camera first zooms into an isolated island in the middle of a lake suggesting this film will be based around isolation (iconography). We are then introduced to a car driving up a mountain, getting closer to an unknown destination. We see the car drive through woodland areas suggesting the mystery of where he may be going and fear of the unknown. The audience does not know where the car is going and who is driving the car. Throughout the whole opening we only see a few other cars, the car the camera is following is almost alone and isolated. Although we do not see who is driving the car, we realise who ever it is, is the main character as the camera is only following them. We also realise the car has been travelling for a while as the snow on the mountain represents how high he has travelled; the higher the driver gets, the more isolated they are. At the end of the opening we see the hotel the driver has been travelling to, it is isolated and in the middle of no-where which meets the audiences expectations of a horror film.
Although we are introduced to the main film straight away in the opening to Dark Skies and The Shining, In the opening to House at the End of the Street we are introduced to a prelude. A method many 21st century horror films directors use. We first see a house and snow falling from the sky then a child’s eye in the background of this. We then realise that the house is in a snow globe that the child is holding. We only see one of her eyes suggesting the devil which tells the audience that she is evil, and we realise she is when she kills both her parents for no apparent reason. As she kills her father on his bed we see feathers from pillows hit the floor. The feathers go from white to red as they are covered in blood. This suggests the loss of innocence and childhood from the girl; the white connotes purity whereas red connotes danger. Throughout the opening there are glitches where it quickly changes to a thermal camera effect. This suggests what the girl sees in her mind as she is far from normal. At the end of the opening we see the girl run off into the woods, leaving many possibilities open for the audience to work out what happens next and to keep them on the edge of their seats.
Print Styles
Horror films tend to use serif fonts for their print in opening scenes. For the print, red, black and white are commonly used as this is stereotypical for the genre of horror. Red represents blood and danger, two things horror films commonly use to scare their audiences. Black is used to represent fear of the unknown of villains whereas white is the opposite, representing innocence and purity of the good characters. White text on black backgrounds are commonly used to suggest good vs. evil.
In the opening to
Psycho there is a black background throughout featuring white text. The white
on black suggests good vs. evil as white usually relates to the good as it
represents purity and innocence whereas black usually relates to the evil as it
represents fear of the unknown and mystery. Serif font is used to reflect the
serious tone of the film and to establish the genre of horror. It is also clean
and easy to read unlike fonts used in chick flicks, for example.
In the opening to Dark Skies white text (of a quote) fades in onto a black background, again suggesting the good vs. the evil. The black represents the fear of the unknown, linking greatly with this film. It begins in a similar way to how the whole Psycho opening is (white on black background). There is also red text used to give the suggestion that this a horror film as red connotes blood and danger; things we often associate with horror. The title of the film fades in from the darkness of the black background, almost like a space ship entering earth from space; linking in with the science fiction horror genre this film is. The opening credits all fade in throughout the opening in a white font, which may connote purity and innocence reflecting the neighbourhood. The fading in of the serif, white font may reflect the serious message and tone the film is expressing; children getting taken away by unknown figures.
In the opening to Evil Dead the main title appears and zooms in on the audience. The font is red and is in a bold style. The director, Fede Alvarez called the opening titles “a homage to gore”. We also see silhouettes of tree branches coming from the black background and over the font. This links to the horror genre with not only the colours used but from the tree branches too. When the leaves fall off trees, they look empty and almost creepy, we can associate this with Halloween and dark nights. The red on black text also could be compared to the Dark Skies opening as they use red on a plain black background.
In the opening to The Shining we see blue text appear from the bottom of the screen and travel to the top in a typical way credits are usually shown. This reflects what the car is doing at this exact moment; much like the text, the car is travelling from the bottom to the top, in this case on a mountain. Blue usually connotes cold and isolation linking the hotel the driver is travelling to. The font is shown in a serif font reflecting the seriousness and formality of the film. Although blue is used to suggest isolation, it is rarely used in horror films as red, black and white are the main colours that they use in openings as they connote blood, death, fear of the unknown, power and innocence.
In the opening to House at the End of the Street the main text is shown in a formal font that appears to be written by a typewriter linking with the horror genre. The font changes from this typewriter-like font to a young handwritten childlike font linking with the child that the film centres around. The font is creepy and fits well within the genre of the film; it almost looks confused reflecting the child’s mind. Much like in Psycho, House at the End of the Street use white text on a black background to suggest good vs. evil.
Sound
In the opening to Dark Skies white text (of a quote) fades in onto a black background, again suggesting the good vs. the evil. The black represents the fear of the unknown, linking greatly with this film. It begins in a similar way to how the whole Psycho opening is (white on black background). There is also red text used to give the suggestion that this a horror film as red connotes blood and danger; things we often associate with horror. The title of the film fades in from the darkness of the black background, almost like a space ship entering earth from space; linking in with the science fiction horror genre this film is. The opening credits all fade in throughout the opening in a white font, which may connote purity and innocence reflecting the neighbourhood. The fading in of the serif, white font may reflect the serious message and tone the film is expressing; children getting taken away by unknown figures.
In the opening to Evil Dead the main title appears and zooms in on the audience. The font is red and is in a bold style. The director, Fede Alvarez called the opening titles “a homage to gore”. We also see silhouettes of tree branches coming from the black background and over the font. This links to the horror genre with not only the colours used but from the tree branches too. When the leaves fall off trees, they look empty and almost creepy, we can associate this with Halloween and dark nights. The red on black text also could be compared to the Dark Skies opening as they use red on a plain black background.
In the opening to The Shining we see blue text appear from the bottom of the screen and travel to the top in a typical way credits are usually shown. This reflects what the car is doing at this exact moment; much like the text, the car is travelling from the bottom to the top, in this case on a mountain. Blue usually connotes cold and isolation linking the hotel the driver is travelling to. The font is shown in a serif font reflecting the seriousness and formality of the film. Although blue is used to suggest isolation, it is rarely used in horror films as red, black and white are the main colours that they use in openings as they connote blood, death, fear of the unknown, power and innocence.
In the opening to House at the End of the Street the main text is shown in a formal font that appears to be written by a typewriter linking with the horror genre. The font changes from this typewriter-like font to a young handwritten childlike font linking with the child that the film centres around. The font is creepy and fits well within the genre of the film; it almost looks confused reflecting the child’s mind. Much like in Psycho, House at the End of the Street use white text on a black background to suggest good vs. evil.
Sound
Sound is a key convention in helping the audience identify the genre of a film is a horror. Low pitch music is commonly used to reflect the dark element of horror films, suggesting there will be scenes where you will see blood, gore and demonic creatures.
In the opening to Psycho, dramatic music begins straight away. This establishes the tone of the film and suggests there may be jump scares. Staccato is used to emphasise a ‘jabbing’ sound reflecting the stabbing motion with a knife that is going to appear in the film, especially in the famous shower scene. The opening begins with a low pitch tone, which is dark, scary and even sinister then converts to a high pitch tone which sounds almost like screams again reflecting what will happen in the film. The music is quick paced that gradually grows just like the bars which puts the viewers on edge and creates a sense of panic.
In the opening to Dark Skies we hear a futuristic screeching noise that you could relate to aliens and space suggesting what we will see in the film. When the main title appears, the sound gets louder and almost turns into a high pitch whistle, which may make audiences uncomfortable. Although what we are seeing throughout the opening are children playing, laughing and having a good time, the music does not quite fit the mise en scene. Violins play throughout the scenes of the neighbourhood, which gives the audience a sense that not everything is as it seems; something is going to happen. The violins create a dark and eerie vibe whilst we see the people out in the neighbourhood.
In the opening to Evil Dead dramatic music begins straight away, much like in Psycho. This also suggests there may be jump scares in the film and establishes the overall tone. The harsh tones of the violins are used to reflect the genre of the film also. The music that plays is sang by what we assume is a choir. This reflects the sub-genre of supernatural horror as we relate a choir with churches, god and the devil. The high-pitched choir like voices turn into to a deep and aggressive tone when we see the fire; almost acts like the voice of the devil. The haunting voices from the choir put the audience on edge.
Whereas Psycho and Evil Dead use fast paced staccato music in their openings, In the opening of The Shining we hear slow, deep, low-pitched music that is similar to music that may be played at a funeral. This is a key convention of helping the audience establish the genre of horror. It makes the audience feel uncomfortable as it is mysterious which fits with the mise en scene; we do not yet have an idea of the car’s destination. When the car is getting higher up the mountain a scream-like noise is introduced giving an idea of what we may happen in the film.
In the opening to The House at the End of the Street there is dramatic instrumental music that gets louder and suddenly stops when there is a cut from black to close up of a snow globe, what the girl is holding. Music is not used throughout the whole opening like in Psycho and The Shining, we hear various sounds. The sounds we hear all fit in time with the action we see. The hallway is silent where we see the girl except from her footsteps and the sound of thunder coming from outside, which is an example of pathetic fallacy as the weather is reflecting the mood. The opening is very quiet, apart from the thunder outside, until we hear screams coming from both parents as the daughter kills them. Screams, thunder and footsteps from creaky floorboards are all typical in horror films as it helps establish the genre and makes the audience uncomfortable. When we see the girl alone in the hallway, whilst we see close ups of her eye, we hear mumbled voices and various creepy noises; we get the sense these noises are all in her head as she is clearly troubled.
In the opening to Psycho, dramatic music begins straight away. This establishes the tone of the film and suggests there may be jump scares. Staccato is used to emphasise a ‘jabbing’ sound reflecting the stabbing motion with a knife that is going to appear in the film, especially in the famous shower scene. The opening begins with a low pitch tone, which is dark, scary and even sinister then converts to a high pitch tone which sounds almost like screams again reflecting what will happen in the film. The music is quick paced that gradually grows just like the bars which puts the viewers on edge and creates a sense of panic.
In the opening to Dark Skies we hear a futuristic screeching noise that you could relate to aliens and space suggesting what we will see in the film. When the main title appears, the sound gets louder and almost turns into a high pitch whistle, which may make audiences uncomfortable. Although what we are seeing throughout the opening are children playing, laughing and having a good time, the music does not quite fit the mise en scene. Violins play throughout the scenes of the neighbourhood, which gives the audience a sense that not everything is as it seems; something is going to happen. The violins create a dark and eerie vibe whilst we see the people out in the neighbourhood.
In the opening to Evil Dead dramatic music begins straight away, much like in Psycho. This also suggests there may be jump scares in the film and establishes the overall tone. The harsh tones of the violins are used to reflect the genre of the film also. The music that plays is sang by what we assume is a choir. This reflects the sub-genre of supernatural horror as we relate a choir with churches, god and the devil. The high-pitched choir like voices turn into to a deep and aggressive tone when we see the fire; almost acts like the voice of the devil. The haunting voices from the choir put the audience on edge.
Whereas Psycho and Evil Dead use fast paced staccato music in their openings, In the opening of The Shining we hear slow, deep, low-pitched music that is similar to music that may be played at a funeral. This is a key convention of helping the audience establish the genre of horror. It makes the audience feel uncomfortable as it is mysterious which fits with the mise en scene; we do not yet have an idea of the car’s destination. When the car is getting higher up the mountain a scream-like noise is introduced giving an idea of what we may happen in the film.
In the opening to The House at the End of the Street there is dramatic instrumental music that gets louder and suddenly stops when there is a cut from black to close up of a snow globe, what the girl is holding. Music is not used throughout the whole opening like in Psycho and The Shining, we hear various sounds. The sounds we hear all fit in time with the action we see. The hallway is silent where we see the girl except from her footsteps and the sound of thunder coming from outside, which is an example of pathetic fallacy as the weather is reflecting the mood. The opening is very quiet, apart from the thunder outside, until we hear screams coming from both parents as the daughter kills them. Screams, thunder and footsteps from creaky floorboards are all typical in horror films as it helps establish the genre and makes the audience uncomfortable. When we see the girl alone in the hallway, whilst we see close ups of her eye, we hear mumbled voices and various creepy noises; we get the sense these noises are all in her head as she is clearly troubled.
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