Title Sequences in Horror

Black and white photos

• The images presented at the start of the title sequence are old images, we know this because they are black and white. This conveys to the audience that the story revolves around this family. The fact they are black and white helps portray the horror genre as they are so old this family is probably dead now and a typical storyline to horrors are ghosts haunting upon people seeking revenge.

Dark mise en scene

• The mise en scene includes typical codes and conventions of the horror genre.

• The graveyard and nooses in these still scenes symbolises death which a convention of all horror movies. T

• All the scenes are very high contrast and dark, giving items less detail and making them harder to see. This is typical to horror because sight is restricted which is perfect for the evil to hide in.

• The house is presented far in the background set in an isolated setting which is a convention of horror. The audience get the idea the film will revolve around it so characters who go there are in imminent danger with no help around as it is an isolated setting. The nooses symbolising death also represents the danger involved in the house behind it.

Old Fashion matches newspaper

• This uses old snippets from newspapers involving horror stories within it. This relates to horror because horror films are predominantly based on myths and stories which are all unproven. This exhibits the unknown to the audience which frightens them.

Slow Paced

• The title sequence involves music of a slow tempo reaching high to low pitches. The audience senses the danger but suspense is built as it sticks to the slow pace and they are left to wait and anticipate what is going to happen. The pitches of the music are abnormal adding to the unknown and abnormal dangers surrounded with the film.

• The whole title sequence to THE CONGURING can be accessed here also involving the music us: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-conjuring/

• The typography of the title is bold and sharp.

Isolated setting and dark

• The dead zone starts with a shot of a large detached home. All the lights are off and the curtains are closed which also gives it the convention of being set in an isolated setting as no one is around to help victims who enter this house. It is of a similar theme to the conjuring presenting the home and basing the plot around this.

DEAD title

• The title DEAD ZONE is featured surrounding the scenes in multiple shots. This emphasises on the words DEAD ZONE which makes the audience aware death is going to occur and the film is obviously of a horror genre. It also links to the convention of isolated settings in horror films. This is because the location the scenes are shot in are the same, indicating this is a danger of death area.

• The typography of the title involved is also bold and sharp. The boldness gives the words even more emphasis and the sharpness of edges symbolise danger as they feel harsh and sharp ( Like a knife). It shows the film is serious and not sweet but more towards the horror genre again.

Creepy person

• During this shot, the first person the audience see but don’t meet is a figure walking on the road in the distance. This person is seen to be abnormal and gives off a sense of danger. He seems abnormal firstly by the fact he is walking in an empty dark area which the audience feel is dangerous because of the surrounding title in the shot. Secondly the costume he wears looks like a cape and the only idea’s the audience get is it can be a superhero but this is unlikely with so many horror codes and conventions involved in the title sequence. So it is linked to Count Dracula who wears one, and he is a monstrous creature so they just sense the danger of this abnormal figure as they try work out what he is about but details of him are left unknown.

Cars driving away

• In this scene cars pass by giving the audience a feel of other life making it feel safer and removing danger. However no faces can be seen when they just drive away, straight out of the village as they pass by removing any sense of security the audience had. The fact they are leaving gives the impression they are leaving for a reason as it darkens late in the day. This causes an addition to the horror suspense.

• Towards the end the roads are shot again but they are empty at this point and the atmosphere is much darker. The movie then starts with this isolated area.