Conventions of Horror film openings

The opening of the film must hook and engage the audience. It must

give hints to the narrative and give you a feel of what the film will intale.

• Film Institutions appear as one of the first frames. Tells the audience who the film was produced, by usually 2 institutions as it spreads cost. Sometimes institution logo’s are edited to suit genre of film & to have links to the title and plot. I.E The Dark Knight Rises Walt bros logo has been edited to link with darkness and evil.

• Establishing shots are used to set the setting and date for the audience. We are introduced to key characters and settings such as the woods in The Shining. Themes are introduces via dialogue and links to pre plot are made without too much being given away.

• The Opening Credits list the most important people involved with the film. This includes directors, cameramen, writers, and key actors usually in order of most on screen. The Film title is placed on screen to show the name of the film. This will have connotations to the audience that they will think of when considering what the plot will be like. Font and colour of text for credits and film title link in with genre and theme of film. I.e. Saw films red text with blood imagery of the font.

• The opening establishes the genre or hybrid genre of the film. This is done by visual imagery or the introduction of characters. I.E in the twilight films in the opening credits we start to get hints of the vampire genre.

• Opening credits use iconography to help establish the overall theme.

• Music is a strong convention used in opening credits. Music intrigues people and interests the audience to keep watching. It also works well to build tension or create a mood to go with the start of the film. Commonly in horror films music of non-diagetic sound is used to start to unease its audience. Pace is built and credits and titles are presented in time with the music.

• Usually starts with equilibrium• A voiceover is used in many films to

introduce the narrative always descriptive and helps the audience to engage in the plot and grow to like or dislike characters. Sometimes can be used to cause confusion and leave the audience wanting to know more. Sometimes in religion or paranormal sub genre horror myths or stories read out by a narrator to introduce the plot.

• Although there are many conventions that films follow in their opening credits some films stray away from this! Some films prefer to have unconventional openings causing confusion and giving less away. By the lack of credits, lack of establishing shots & lack of characters introduced it results in an artistic opening that leaves the audience feeling intrigued and confused. This can be very effective. Horror films that do this include Hostel, insidious, The Dark Knight.