Analysis of 3 horror title sequences
1. Dawn of the Dead
Macro:
The key plot idea that is introduced in this title sequence is that there is a zombie apocalypse and that they're taking over the world. Nobody knows what they are, including scientists. In my opinion, this title sequence tells the audience a lot more that they should as the audience now know too much to make the film more mysterious.
The order that the story line is introduced is in an orderly way which the audience will understand. We understand that the problem (zombies) starts with only a few that end up in hospital because everyone assumes that they're mentally ill. There are many more cases so everyone becomes concerned and the president of a laboratory has to explain what is going on. He obviously doesn't know what they are but he knows they're dangerous. Everything goes downhill from there.
The main characters introduced are the zombies. The characters that probably won't ever be seen again are the news anchor/reporters, military and the president of a scientific lab.
The social groups that we see are the military which are represented negatively at first as we see them killing humans (not just the enemies.) However near the end, we see that they are trying to kill anything that looks as if it's dangerous and harmful.
The key plot idea that is introduced in this title sequence is that there is a zombie apocalypse and that they're taking over the world. Nobody knows what they are, including scientists. In my opinion, this title sequence tells the audience a lot more that they should as the audience now know too much to make the film more mysterious.
The order that the story line is introduced is in an orderly way which the audience will understand. We understand that the problem (zombies) starts with only a few that end up in hospital because everyone assumes that they're mentally ill. There are many more cases so everyone becomes concerned and the president of a laboratory has to explain what is going on. He obviously doesn't know what they are but he knows they're dangerous. Everything goes downhill from there.
The main characters introduced are the zombies. The characters that probably won't ever be seen again are the news anchor/reporters, military and the president of a scientific lab.
The social groups that we see are the military which are represented negatively at first as we see them killing humans (not just the enemies.) However near the end, we see that they are trying to kill anything that looks as if it's dangerous and harmful.
Micro:
Camera:
The shot distances, angles and movements that are shown throughout are close ups on faces, medium shots, extreme close ups, long shots of crowds of people, low angle shots faced up to the sky, panning, tracking shots, zooming in and out, and finally, high angle shot.
Editing:
Every transition to the next clip/video is quick and speedy. The zombies face is cut after 1 second of the audience seeing it, then there is a black screen, then we see this zombie face. This hints to the audience that this film won't be soft and relaxing, it will be a fast-paced frightening horror. The quick cuts are used so that the audience don't know what this creature is exactly, but they will figure it out in the end.
Mise-en-scene:
There are many locations in this sequence, including the white house, a factory, a hospital, streets, news studios and football pitches. Every single location showed fear and disasters. There were fires, zombies and helicopters. The props used included guns, microphones, vehicles, cameras and bats. The make-up was blood used for the zombies. The lighting is mostly dark and looks we're watching from a tv as it's sometimes blurry and static. The quality of the events shown are unclear and are in bad quality. I know that this was done by purpose to give an effect of realness and frighten the audience more as it is more realistic. The performances are mostly 'zombies' and the news reporters.
Sound:
In the beginning, we hear an atmospheric sound. This makes the scene more tense as anything could happen. The atmospheric sound was added in post-production so it is non-digetic. Throughout the title sequence, there are little clips that are louder that the background songs that were placed there in the post-production. For example: In Dawn of the Dead, there is a black screen with a tune playing quietly, then a clip shows up with the sound (most of the time we hear screams.) This is the digetic sound as it is in the characters world. There are two tunes that are played non-stop throughout the title sequence. At first, we hear a heart beat getting louder, then there is an actual song. The beating of the heart getting louder increases the tension. Then, when the song come on, we hear it is a happy, relaxing tune but the images we see are the opposite. This is called asynchronous. The foley sound in this sequence is the bombs, gun shots, glass breaking, static sounds and punches.
The shot distances, angles and movements that are shown throughout are close ups on faces, medium shots, extreme close ups, long shots of crowds of people, low angle shots faced up to the sky, panning, tracking shots, zooming in and out, and finally, high angle shot.
Editing:
Every transition to the next clip/video is quick and speedy. The zombies face is cut after 1 second of the audience seeing it, then there is a black screen, then we see this zombie face. This hints to the audience that this film won't be soft and relaxing, it will be a fast-paced frightening horror. The quick cuts are used so that the audience don't know what this creature is exactly, but they will figure it out in the end.
Mise-en-scene:
There are many locations in this sequence, including the white house, a factory, a hospital, streets, news studios and football pitches. Every single location showed fear and disasters. There were fires, zombies and helicopters. The props used included guns, microphones, vehicles, cameras and bats. The make-up was blood used for the zombies. The lighting is mostly dark and looks we're watching from a tv as it's sometimes blurry and static. The quality of the events shown are unclear and are in bad quality. I know that this was done by purpose to give an effect of realness and frighten the audience more as it is more realistic. The performances are mostly 'zombies' and the news reporters.
Sound:
In the beginning, we hear an atmospheric sound. This makes the scene more tense as anything could happen. The atmospheric sound was added in post-production so it is non-digetic. Throughout the title sequence, there are little clips that are louder that the background songs that were placed there in the post-production. For example: In Dawn of the Dead, there is a black screen with a tune playing quietly, then a clip shows up with the sound (most of the time we hear screams.) This is the digetic sound as it is in the characters world. There are two tunes that are played non-stop throughout the title sequence. At first, we hear a heart beat getting louder, then there is an actual song. The beating of the heart getting louder increases the tension. Then, when the song come on, we hear it is a happy, relaxing tune but the images we see are the opposite. This is called asynchronous. The foley sound in this sequence is the bombs, gun shots, glass breaking, static sounds and punches.
The order of the title credits are:
Ident
Production Company
Title
5 stars (Have their own page each)
2 stars on one page (not as important as main characters)
3 stars on one page (less important roles)
casting by
music by
music supervisor
special makeup effects
costume designer
co-producer
editor
production designer
director of photography
executive producers (3)
produced by (3)
based on a screenplay by
screenplay by
directed by
Macro:
The key plot idea introduced is that the person that we see planning something is a psycho that plans his murders very precisely. He records everything on paper and even has images of his victims that he sticks in his book.
The story line is introduced in a simple order. It first begins with a plain writing book and then we see him sticking and cutting images of dead people. He also writes a lot in his book.
The character introduced is this psycho. We are introduced to him from right in the beginning.
Micro:
Camera:
The sequence begins with a close up of a notebook turning a page. The shot types include extreme close ups of fingers, close ups of some psychotic weapons and bird eye views of what the psycho is planning. We also see high angle shots of his work.
Editing:
The speed and cuts of the clips give a sense of spastic attacks as there is never a clean 5 seconds of calm video footage. This tells the readers that this film will be jumpy and that they won't be able to sit still.
Mise-en-scene:
The location is the psychos room. The setting and lighting is very dark but there is a lamp shining on what he is working. This brings all the attention on his psychotic work. The props used are some little weapons that the psycho uses to cut the skin on his fingers. Other props that are used are books and needles.
Sound:
The sound begins with a loud atmospheric noise. At the same time, we hear multiple beats that makes up a tune. This tune is heard throughout the whole sequence. The digetic sound we hear is a clicking sound, almost as if the psycho is opening a safe (the locks that you have to turn make a similar sound.) The non-digetic sound we hear is a whizzing sound as it is added in post production. This sound creates an uneasy feeling for the audience as it is an unpleasant sound. Near the middle, all the sounds that were digetic become non-digetic as we keep hearing them in beat to the song. There is no digetic sound after. Near the end, all the weird and uneasy sounds are part of the tune, and the tune becomes louder and faster which is adding the tension and suspense.
Order of the title sequence:
Ident
Production Company
Film by
2 main Stars (have a page each)
Title
4 other main stars (have a page each)
2 less important actors
9 more actors (3 actors per page)
casting by
music by
costume designer
editor
production designer
director of photography
co producers
co-executive producers
executive producers
writer
producer
director
Macro:
The key plot idea introduced is that the people in the car are driving somewhere they shouldn't. We don't get anything more of the storyline as it may give away too much to the audience. The order the storyline is introduced is just the car driving in a nice looking area to the car driving near a cold and darker atmosphere. None of the characters are introduced in this title sequence however we get an idea that someone doesn't want the people in the car to go to where they're going. I know this because the camera that follows the car continuously seems like a predator spying or chasing the car.
Micro:
Camera:
In the beginning the movement is a tracking shot of the car. It seems as if the camera is an eagle by the way the camera turns. The shot types we see are birds eye view, extreme long shot, tracking shot, high angle shots,
Editing:
The whole title sequence is of the camera following the car. There are some cuts to other angles but they're discreet as it looks seamless. As the cameras tracking shot increases in speed, the camera (predator) gets closer to the car. This makes the audience feel as if anything can happen at any moment, which therefore, creates suspense.
Mise-en-scene:
The location of this title sequence is near some mountains and wildlife. There is a river/lake and a road that people can drive on. Near the beginning, the camera makes it seem like it is te predator spying following the people in the car. At one point, the audience feel the dramatic change of atmosphere as they see the physical differences of where the car was driving before. This raises the audiences concern which is what the directors want.
Sound:
The sound begins with a sound motif (the shark in jaws) however it is a little different. This sound is non-digetic as the world we are watching cannot hear it. We hear this sound throughout the whole title sequence. The mood changes when a new sound is heard. It sounds like a screeching animal. This is non-digetic as it was added in post-production and the characters world cannot hear it. Near the end, the continuous sound that sounds as if it could be a sound motif starts getting lower in key. It sounds very deep which makes the audience think that something will happen. At the same time, we hear a high pitches sound that sounds like a scream. This is the highest point in the sequence as it is the most tense and suspenseful.
The order of the title credits:
Ident
2 stars
title
featuring (7 actors)
executive producer
based on the novel by
production company
screenplay by
produced and directed by
director of photography
executive producers (3)
produced by (3)
based on a screenplay by
screenplay by
directed by
2. Seven
Macro:
The key plot idea introduced is that the person that we see planning something is a psycho that plans his murders very precisely. He records everything on paper and even has images of his victims that he sticks in his book.
The story line is introduced in a simple order. It first begins with a plain writing book and then we see him sticking and cutting images of dead people. He also writes a lot in his book.
The character introduced is this psycho. We are introduced to him from right in the beginning.
Micro:
Camera:
The sequence begins with a close up of a notebook turning a page. The shot types include extreme close ups of fingers, close ups of some psychotic weapons and bird eye views of what the psycho is planning. We also see high angle shots of his work.
Editing:
The speed and cuts of the clips give a sense of spastic attacks as there is never a clean 5 seconds of calm video footage. This tells the readers that this film will be jumpy and that they won't be able to sit still.
Mise-en-scene:
The location is the psychos room. The setting and lighting is very dark but there is a lamp shining on what he is working. This brings all the attention on his psychotic work. The props used are some little weapons that the psycho uses to cut the skin on his fingers. Other props that are used are books and needles.
Sound:
The sound begins with a loud atmospheric noise. At the same time, we hear multiple beats that makes up a tune. This tune is heard throughout the whole sequence. The digetic sound we hear is a clicking sound, almost as if the psycho is opening a safe (the locks that you have to turn make a similar sound.) The non-digetic sound we hear is a whizzing sound as it is added in post production. This sound creates an uneasy feeling for the audience as it is an unpleasant sound. Near the middle, all the sounds that were digetic become non-digetic as we keep hearing them in beat to the song. There is no digetic sound after. Near the end, all the weird and uneasy sounds are part of the tune, and the tune becomes louder and faster which is adding the tension and suspense.
Order of the title sequence:
Ident
Production Company
Film by
2 main Stars (have a page each)
Title
4 other main stars (have a page each)
2 less important actors
9 more actors (3 actors per page)
casting by
music by
costume designer
editor
production designer
director of photography
co producers
co-executive producers
executive producers
writer
producer
director
3. The Shinning
Macro:
The key plot idea introduced is that the people in the car are driving somewhere they shouldn't. We don't get anything more of the storyline as it may give away too much to the audience. The order the storyline is introduced is just the car driving in a nice looking area to the car driving near a cold and darker atmosphere. None of the characters are introduced in this title sequence however we get an idea that someone doesn't want the people in the car to go to where they're going. I know this because the camera that follows the car continuously seems like a predator spying or chasing the car.
Micro:
Camera:
In the beginning the movement is a tracking shot of the car. It seems as if the camera is an eagle by the way the camera turns. The shot types we see are birds eye view, extreme long shot, tracking shot, high angle shots,
Editing:
The whole title sequence is of the camera following the car. There are some cuts to other angles but they're discreet as it looks seamless. As the cameras tracking shot increases in speed, the camera (predator) gets closer to the car. This makes the audience feel as if anything can happen at any moment, which therefore, creates suspense.
Mise-en-scene:
The location of this title sequence is near some mountains and wildlife. There is a river/lake and a road that people can drive on. Near the beginning, the camera makes it seem like it is te predator spying following the people in the car. At one point, the audience feel the dramatic change of atmosphere as they see the physical differences of where the car was driving before. This raises the audiences concern which is what the directors want.
Sound:
The sound begins with a sound motif (the shark in jaws) however it is a little different. This sound is non-digetic as the world we are watching cannot hear it. We hear this sound throughout the whole title sequence. The mood changes when a new sound is heard. It sounds like a screeching animal. This is non-digetic as it was added in post-production and the characters world cannot hear it. Near the end, the continuous sound that sounds as if it could be a sound motif starts getting lower in key. It sounds very deep which makes the audience think that something will happen. At the same time, we hear a high pitches sound that sounds like a scream. This is the highest point in the sequence as it is the most tense and suspenseful.
The order of the title credits:
Ident
2 stars
title
featuring (7 actors)
executive producer
based on the novel by
production company
screenplay by
produced and directed by
Conclusion:
The similarities between all the three film openings are that all their sound/music were suspenseful and created an effect towards the audience (me.) All the openings had a similar way to establish the tone and theme of the films. For example, Dawn of the Dead used moving images (of zombies) to tell the audience that the theme is going to be a zombie apocalypse. The Shining also used moving images however they used the camera movement to create an effect.
From these title sequences and my analysis, I have come up with some ideas for the film opening my group and I are going to make. I don't want to give too much away but I am thinking representing the camera as something/a character. I got this idea from The Shining.
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