Analysing Horror Film openings

As a part of research towards the task I watched a series of horror film openings to try and identify any similarities between the openings, and what typically is included within the opening title sequence of these films.

Psycho

Music - High pitched, quick sound of strings being played on the violin. Its as if the violin strings being played sounds like the blade of a knife penetrating into something, as its a short, sharp sound resembling this stabbing motion. However this could also portray the character screaming within the film, illustrating a sense of panic. The low pitch undertones creates an uneasy, threatening tension, along with the fast pace rhythm of the music representing the killer perhaps chasing their victim.

Print Styles - A bold font is used for the text on screen - perhaps resembling the knife's blade. The font quickly appears from various angles then cuts out to reappear again, portraying a stabbing motion of a knife. The font is also distorted which represents the personality of the character to be unclear, as they are a physco. Capital letters denotes the tone of a bold and serious tone.

Action - Lines enter quickly from various angles and disappear, which re-inforces this stabbing motion. Black and white highlights a serious matter and even severity.

Nightmare on Elm Street 1: 1984

Music - Slow sinister music with a sharp, yet low pitched tone, which could portray the character screaming. Then once the character appears we begin to hear the music gain a higher pitch, highlighting how the villain is unpredictable. We begin to hear the villain laughing and groaning to himself, and at this point the music becomes fast paced. From this we become concerned and start to panic as we feel uneasy hearing the character.

Print Styles - A bold font is used for the text on screen, with the colour red to portray blood. This also connotes danger and some form of a demon in many cases. The word "Nightmare" stands out more than the rest of the text so we infer that this has a significant meaning within the film.

Action - We don't actually see the character's face - Freddy Krueger, in the opening title. Instead we see him making some form of weapon, which we can infer that this has some significance in the film, and is a key part of Kruger's identity.

Friday 13th: Part 3

Music - High pitched music with abrupt violin sounds, almost like a "screech" noise of someone in danger, or suffering badly. It is fairly quick paced and therefore highlights the villain to perhaps be chasing the victim, which we could later on see in the film.

Print Styles - The font is red and bold and almost extends out of the screen using a three dimensional effect. Again like Physco this can portray a stabbing motion; especially as it is red portraying blood on the knife. Supported by the text coming from various angles on screen - the killer's actions are unpredictable. Additionally like a Nightmare on Elm Street the colour red has been used to illustrate danger and blood.

Action - We see a misty background on screen showing how it is an uneasy setting and in a dark place, which is hard to escape from. Along with this the first thing we see on screen is a dead body, which shows how ruthless the killer is within the film.

Insidious 2010

Music - Slow uneasy music makes you curious as to why its so slow with an unpredicted, subtle screeching sound - violin. This makes us very uneasy as to why its so slow.

Print Styles - Text is red like on a Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday 13th, with a gothic style font relating to a demonic presence within the film. At one stage the text appears from a shadow, as it could be showing the killer to come from the unexpected and unknown. The text burns at some stage within the credits, which portrays how the killer is uncontrollable like fire being out of control and a danger.

Action - Shot of the young boy sleeping in bed, showing how harmless he is. This causes us to be intrigued as to what his role is within the film and perhaps how he could emerge as the killer. There's various images of the boys family in their home in black and white, which creates a sinister feel surrounding the innocent family, and that they are in danger.

Scream 1

Music - Creepy voice on the phone and the phone begins to ring, along with a fast paced track and abrupt screeching noise, heard in some of the other opening credits highlighted above. These screeching noises are a combination with drums too, which could portray a have impact of a weapon hitting the victim.

Print Styles - Text is in red portraying blood seen in some of the other credits above, and danger. Its in capitals to show its boldness and a heavy feel.

Action - We firstly see a girl pick up the phone and she is nervous therefore as the audience we begin to share emotions with her before the film has even properly begun. A forest location has been used for the scenery, which is typical of a horror film for the place to be of the unknown.