The document analyzes the title sequence of the film Se7en. It discusses how Se7en uses a montage of dark and obscure shots relating to the plot to set an ominous tone. Specific techniques highlighted include using very close-up shots that do not reveal much, dark lighting with red, black and grey colors, and scenes that hint at the disturbing themes in the story like cutting fingernails or bloody text. The document also notes that thriller and horror films commonly use long montage sequences with similar dark and mysterious techniques to build suspense for viewers.
2. Analysing Title Sequences
Title sequences are important parts of the opening
sequence of a movie.
There are many different ways of constructing a title
sequence
Titles over the narrative
“Montage edit”
Looking at title sequences for similar films will benefit my
work.
3. Se7en (1995)
Techniques used in Se7en’s title sequence
Montage edit
Pulls audience away from action.
Dark, Grisly themes (e.g. Cutting off fingernails,
bloody text)
Emphasizes the dark nature of the movie
Shots are oblique and extremely close up
Keeps the scenes mysterious, doesn’t give too
much away from the audience
4. Se7en (1995)
Techniques used in Se7en’s title sequence
Scenes relate to the story
Because the scenes relate to the story it is still relevant to what’s going
on, it also allows the audience to start thinking about what’s going on
and what may be happening, getting them interested
Colours used
The colours used reflect the tone and feel of the story. The lighting is
very dark over reds, blacks and greys. These colours have connotations
with dark places, situations and even things like blood and murder.
5. An example of a different style of opening
sequence
In Stephen King’s The Shining, the opening sequence is one long
establishing shot over rolling hills and mountains following a car.
While this sets the scene it does nothing for the narrative, however
the music and other sounds give this introduction an extreme sense
of foreboding, giving it a scary feel in a contrapuntal sense.
6. Classic layout for thriller / horror film
For the majority of thriller / horror films I have studied, I have found
the following parallels:
Montage sequence of scenes relevant to the film (Se7en, The Butterfly
effect)
Dark colours, grisly themes (Se7en, The Woman In Black)
Oblique shots, obscuring the true nature of the content ( ,
Se7en)
Long: Unlike some other film genres, the title sequences are almost
always long and drawn out. This increases suspense for the viewer.
