The opening sequence of Van Helsing is longer than typical at 13 minutes. It uses flashbacks to establish the context for the story and introduces the main character Van Helsing in the current time period. The sequence is mostly black and white to convey it is showing past events. It aims to set the dark, mysterious, and eerie tone for the hybrid horror, fantasy, and violence genres the film contains. The sequence establishes Transylvania and Castle Dracula as key settings and focuses on building up the castle as an important location for the drama and action of the film.

1. 2004 Opening Sequence
Daniella Bryce

3. The opening sequence to the 2004 film Van Helsing is
some what longer and less convenitonal then that of
your average film. It consists of a glance back in time to
previous dramatic events that set the scene for the
following story and establish the reasons behind the
storyline. The audience then has a brief encounter
with the character Van Helsing in the current time the
film was set. The opening sequence lasts 13minutes but
sets the foundations for the following film firmly in
the audiences mind and encapsulates the genre.

4. The film is mainly set in Transylvania and in some
scenes set in Paris, France and The Vatican City, Rome.
The film mainly evolves around Castle Dracula and the
village neighbouring it. The film itself is set in 1887.
During the opening sequence mainly the castle is
shown and the windmill on its grounds. This puts the
castle as a focus point of the film and is the main
setting for the action and drama of the film.

5. As this film is a hybrid of genres including horror,
fantasy, violence etc. It is naturally dark. The opening
sequence is for the most part in black and white, this is
the part where the audience gets an insight into the
past. The black and white add to the overall effect and
assure the audience that this is a flash back now real
time. When the flash back is over it resumes normal
colour but immediately the scene is plunged into
darkness and is set at night. This is a common
convention of a film with this genre and fully
establishes the overall tone of the film as eerie,
mysterious and daunting.

6. During the opening sequence there doesn't appear to be
any obvious icons but some will be established later on
in the film.

7. Van Helsing: Dark, mysterious, male character. Typically
of a film of this sort there is one main character that
the film evolves around. Normally this character is
strong, courageous and often has ‘some thing missing’
so to say, weather that's an artefact or a personal
feeling they have to discover/find it over the course of
the film.
There are other characters in the opening sequence but
there is not enough detail to pin point certain
conventions or traits.

8. The narrative of the film is about a hero, Van Helsing,
sent to save a girl from a bad guy, Count Dracula, who
is threatening her life and the lives of those around
her. Together they face many foes such as werewolves,
other vampires, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. They have to
kill Dracula in order to give sanctuary to the Balerous
family.