Openings

After looking at the title opening scenes from a few current horror films, there were elements which I felt we could use.

Title Scene Opening

Firstly, from The Woman in Black, the title scene begins zooming into a figure before there is a stained-like affect as the letters turn red, before revealing the film company name. At first, the audience finds it difficult to make out what this figure is, which is effective when looking at horror as often the audience is initially left 'in the dark'. Also, red is symbolic to danger and blood which is also suitable for the genre as red is a common generic colour in this genre. This creates a smooth transition from one focus to the next, which is an element which we would like to have in our own opening scene.

Followed by this, the non-diegetic high pitched sound of Mrs Fisher screaming, is placed against seeing clouds on screen as the titles fade in and out of the clouds, which again, produce a smooth transition whilst introducing the title, before continuing with the film.


As well as this, the title scene in Sinister also creates a sleek transition when the film company name appears on screen as there are already supernatural elements before the opening scene begins, such as:

• low key lighting,
•  an unidentified young girl, dressed in white,
• with her back to the camera,
•  In the setting of, what seems to be, an empty room.

The non diegetic sound of a flickering light also helps to add this horror feel to the title scene. I like the way in which the company name had been merged to fit the genre as it is in sync with the surroundings. For example, the name has been put on the wall, above the light bulb, to look as though it is being projected, however, the lighting of the name still goes with the low key lighting. I find this to be more interesting as opposed to having the company name in a plain black background with the title just appearing as this overly conforms to the supernatural and mysterious atmosphere which the audience would want in a horror film.

Opening Scene

Some opening scenes are sandwiched between titles, which therefore make them longer. In The Woman in Black,  with the first scene of  3 little girls, stereotypes of young girls are immediately challenged when we see the girls stepping on their dolls before jumping out of the window.

The mise en scene of the initial setting converts to these stereotypes as  the following were on scene: teacups, dolls, floral dresses, as well as a toy baby pram and the non-diegetic mellow chimed music; which all give a child-like set-up. However, this is juxtaposed when soon after, we  see the girls crushing their dolls and walking towards the window as the non-diegetic music begins to have a low drum and mysterious church-like sound. Though only a few extra instruments have been added, it effectively creates a horror-like atmosphere.