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1. RESEARCH INTO TITLES,
SOUNDS AND EDITING
OF OPENINGS OF TWO
HORROR FILMS:
DAWN OF THE DEAD
INSIDIOUS
BY BRADLEY BARNES

2. DAWN OF THE DEAD - TITLES
 By the title being in CAPS lock there is a special emphasis on
words l ike “DE AD, ” a s i t is foreshadowing/warning the
audience that the rest of the fi lm titles are also l ikely to be in
red capitals, therefore adding to the horror genre of the fi lm.
The font is written against a sol id black background with
contrasting red text. The use the red font emphasises pain
and terror, and is usually used to indicate a warning of some
kind. This idea of pain is fur ther shown with the added ef fect
of causing the text to run of f screen ( l ike blood) .

3. DAWN OF THE DEAD - SOUND
 The diegetic music soundtrack for the opening is (Johnny C a s h ’ s ,
“When a man c ome s arou nd . ”) . Pe r s onally, I t h i nk t h i s i s an
unusual song choice for the opening because i t d o e s n’ t fi t in with
the graphic images and cl ips shown on screen. On the other hand
it is also very ef fective as it distracts the audience from feel ing
anything for the characters, therefore not al lowing them to get
too involved as the pace of the fi lm is very fast and engaging. So
therefore when they then look at a dif ferent scene from a fresh
perspective they wi l l be able to pick out better detai l, al lowing
them to appreciate the ef for t put in more as they scream and
turn away in discus and fear, as they now understand the plot
from the opening even more from the engaging and enl ightening
soundtrack which of fers the audience members many dif ferent
connotations, such as: death, fear, survival and hope.

4. DAWN OF THE DEAD – EDITING OF
OPENINGS
 The use of quick cuts between the names and other footage
on screen create tension and quickens the pace, whi le
showing the audience the extreme speed the infection is
spreading. This is shown through the use of fast cuts
increasing the number of ki l lings and repor ts. These quick
cuts are extremely ef fective in showing the worldwide
pandemonium and setting of the fi lm, showing that the events
about to take place are being repeated every where and is
therefore showing the audience members that the infection is
universal and not only concentrated in one location.
I t almost subconsciously asks them: Where wi l l the infection
strike next?, How long wi l l it take before that
happens/occurs?

5. INSIDIOUS - TITLES
 The titles of the fi lm production company, main actors,
director etc. appear is in a chi l ling red font.
 First, we just get shown the titles in a harsh unfriendly red
font. The words then fade upwards and the writing becomes
l ighter. The words then go into an almost pale blue,
completely contrasting to the goory red of the title, this could
suggest a more ghostly/supernatural aspect on the fi lm.
Finally, the writing goes lef t then fades out letter by letter,
increasing potential tension to the audience as this happens
slowly.

6. INSIDIOUS - SOUND
 Firstly, sound In the opening of Insidious consists of non-diegetic
music as we cannot physical ly see where the sound is
coming from. When we first see the shadow we hear a high
pitch viol in being played fast, this sound emphasises the
tension the shadow brings and suggests that it may play an
impor tant par t in the fi lm.
 Secondly, when we get close of what we bel ieve to be a
woma n ’ s face the sound goes quiet and then the title shows
up with a high pitch sound, this has been craf ted for ef fect to
try and make the audience jump, as they may have not been
anticipating this.
 Finally, af ter the title appears, the rest of the opening has a
eerie, mysterious feel to the music, to give a sense of unease
to the audience watching.

7. INSIDIOUS – EDITING OF OPENINGS
 Fi rst ly, the edi t ing of the opening of Insidious is slow, therefore giving the
audience a chance to take i t al l in and to get any possible sense of enigma
( for example, why do we see a young boy in a dark, haunted looking house
alone) .
 Secondly, af ter ever y shot there is a fade out f rom into a fade in of
another shot , this makes the next shot look mysterious, also when we go
into the next shot i t is unfocused suggest ing something is about to
happen.
 Thi rdly, the f i lm opening is in black and whi te apar t f rom the beginning,
therefore giving us a sense of unease. The connotat ions of black is evi l
and mystery and the connotat ions of whi te are pur i ty, goodness and
innocence giving the idea that in this f i lm there wi l l be a clash of good and
ev i l . T h e c o l o u r o f t h e t i t l e ‘ I n s i d i o u s ’ i s in red, which suggests danger and
blood, therefore making the edi t ing of background colours and t i t le
colours af fect ive.
 Final ly, there is a long shot of a Grandfather clock down a cor r idor, as we
get closer to what we bel ieve is a Grandfather clock there is then a jump
cut . This is an impor tant shot and could suggest that the Grandfather
clock wi l l play an impor tant par t in the f i lm and could be a key prop.