1. Analysis of the opening sequence of THE SHINING
The opening sequence of the shining starts of with an extreme long
shot to show the audience/viewers where it is taken place. The shot
shows mainly nature in a empty place. This can represent the affect
of isolation with no one being around. Also combined with this
camera shot there is music non-diegetic music being played into the
sequence, with the use of instruments such as violins, guitars, and
piano. This music helps to emphasise the loneliness of the horror
with the effect of hollow and echoes, which is normally, represent
with emptiness and loneliness. Throughout the sequence the Rocky
Mountains are nearly always in the framing of the shots. This
represents to the audience that at some part in the film the Rocky
Mountains is going to be a key part of where some of the violence is
going to occur. This makes the audience build up suspense to the part
of the film comes up. The opening scene is set in broad daylight,
which is not usually associated with horror. Horrors are typically set
in dark places. With the opening scene being set in daylight this helps
the audience relive tension and not expect the worse. In a way this
can be good with the audience least expecting the killing to occur it
will end with the audience being in more shock, which is what the
aim of the film is. There is a high angle used to show the car driving
on a empty road. With this angle being used the car looks miniature
compare to the surrounding. The surrounding in this mainly trees,
mountains, and water which again emphasis the effect of isolation.
Later on in the sequence the audience have a clear view of fog. Fog is
often typically used in horror films to help disguise someone or
something. This helps build up tension to the audience. Further on
towards the ends of the sequence the weathering has changed to
snow being laid on the ground. Snow can be the connation of
innocent which in this film could be the killer or the victim. This also
helps to build up suspense to the audience. Also in the sequence
transitions are used when the titles are on. The music is also playing
continuously throughout the sequence, to help the audience gain
more tension, and suspense ready for the film to start. At the end of
the opening sequence the is a establishing shot of a big house with
the Rocky Mountains in the background. This suggests to the
audience that with so much focus on the mountains and house it is
the main part of the film of where the killing etc. is going to occur and
this makes the audience more suspicious and weary and grasping for

2. air as they don’t know what is going to happen or when it is going to
happen in the film.