1. Horror films and sub-genres of horror – analysis of opening credits
Many of the horror films that I analysed were more or less similar in certain key ways. The purpose of a
film opening is to intrigue/ hook the audience and in the openings I analysed I very much found this to
be the case. For example, many of the opening sequences left you with more questions than answers,
they gave you hints at what would be expected of the film. In Evil Dead and Cape Fear, it hints at the
content of the films and gives an indication of genre. In Evil Dead’s opening sequence, you see
ritualistic and demonic imagery and repetition of the colour red - it’s a homage to blood and gore. It
clearly indicates the brutal and horrific content in the film through the use of imagery and colour
palette. Similarly in Cape Fear, we see darkened waters and the appearance of a shadowy figure. The
scene changes to a red hue as the credits close. As the film’s climatic scene is set on a boat with a
psychotic stalker terrorising a family – this opening obviously foreshadows these events in some way.
Psycho
Action
• The lines that are constantly entering and exiting the scene could represent a
chase, the way that they erratically enter could highlight how panicked a person
would be in a chase.
• Also the emphasise of the short and sharp entry of the lines could represent a
stabbing motion, which would later became a key element in part of the film.
Print styles
• Words are written in block capitals, highlighting the serious and sinister aspects of
the film.
• Names that appear are distorted, could represent the identity of the killer being
distorted.
• The words seem to have a cracked and broken appearance, showing the ‘Psycho’
character.
Sound
• String sounds used are very sharp, represents the ‘stabbing’ motion.
• Low pitched undertones, brings an atmosphere of threat.
• High pitched strings that appear over the top could also represent panic and
screaming.
• Sharp driving sounds, also fast paced, could represent a chase in which the
‘Psycho’ never gives up.
Iconography - The bars represent the façade of the Psycho’s personality, as time goes
on the bars begin to fade and the word reveals itself, highlight how the true
personality of the Psycho will eventually reveal itself.
2. Evil Dead
Action
• Blood seems to take on shapes and forms, even after it has left the body and
considered ‘dead’, it still lives on.
• Shots are very raw and gory, foreshadowing the key element within the film.
• Blood and fire are seemingly interchangeable in the opening sequence, highlights
how something that seems to keep you alive, can also kill you.
Print styles
• Words are written in block capitals, represents the sinister aspect within the film.
• Words that appear are scratched and damaged, highlighting how the characters in
the film have been damaged physically and mentally.
• Words are coloured red, representing the blood, again linking to the idea of gore.
Sound
• Low pitched undertones, brings an atmosphere of threat.
• Sharp driving sounds, also fast paced, represents the panic that is felt by the
characters throughout the film.
Iconography - Shots are a form of foreshadowing, they are actually similar shots to
how people are killed within the main film.
3. Dawn of the Dead
Action
• Many of the shots are seen to be news reports shots of the infected attacking and
biting humans, gives all necessary information prior to the film.
• Shots shows ‘zombies’, representing the sub-genre of horror, brings in key
elements of the film.
• News reports slowly darken in context, from minor attacks to losing cities,
foreshadows downward spiral of events that will occur in the film.
Print styles
• Title is written in block capitals, represents the sinister aspect within the film.
• Words that appear are damaged, moving, they are seemingly infected highlighting
the zombie aspect within the film.
• Words are coloured red, representing infected blood, linking to the genre of
zombie horror.
Sound
• Song is a western classic by well known artist Johnny Cash
• Song is a huge contrast to the genre of film, yet the lyrics can relate to the genre.
• Once the lyrics are heard, the song suddenly becomes very sinister the realism of
the situation sets in on the audience, adding to the suspense and eeriness of the
film
4. Cape Fear
Action
• Many of the shots are seemingly useless, just shots of the water and an unknown
stranger, highlights mysterious identity of the film and aspects within the film
including the main protagonist and the location in which the film is set.
• Any words that appear are very distorted and hard to read, highlights unknown
personality and identity of the killer within the film, people know little about him.
• Shots of the bloody water represent the horror aspect within the film, before the
shots are just of the water and it doesn’t seem like the film will reside in the
horror genre.
Print styles
• Words are written in block capitals, represents the sinister aspect within the film.
• Words that appear are white, they contrast against the background, shows how
the killer will stand out amongst the crowd.
• Words are distorted and fade away, highlights how the killer will be inconspicuous
in how he handles his murders, and will disappear before anyone can catch him.
Sound
• Very low undertones, highlights the atmosphere of threat that will continue
throughout the film.
• Piano notes are high pitched, bring about a sense of panic into the shots.
• Mix of high and low notes create a sinister environment.
5. Alien 3
Action
• Shots highlight the futuristic aspect of the film, they show you inside of the space
station and bits of certain technology within the space station.
• Shots of the ‘face hugger’ are short and it cannot be seen properly, represents
how the Alien will be throughout the film, hard to find, and when you do find it, it
will only be for a short time, yet it will be very deadly in a short space of time.
• Shots of the main character ‘Ripley’ give us an insight into what has happened to
her and provides us with an introduction to her.
Print styles
• Words are written in block capitals, represents the sinister aspect within the film.
• Words that appear are white, they contrast against the background but soon fade
away, highlighting that the Alien will stand out, but will not be visible for long.
• Words are in a very plain font, representing the Alien’s simple task throughout the
film, kill everyone on the space station.
Sound
• Very low undertones, highlights the atmosphere of threat that will continue
throughout the film.
• High notes highlight the sinister aspect in the film.
