evil dead opening sequence analysis

1. Directed by Fede Alvarez

2. Overview

 The Opening title sequence of ‘The Evil Dead’ immediately
grasps the audience as pools of blood flow down a decaying
staircase. The blood then begins splattering the walls and
floors, as the amount is still increasing. Limbs are then chopped
off, nails are stuck into skin, and a chainsaw cuts a body in an
even more violent deaths. The screen is then covered with
gallons of splashing blood and engulfed in flames.
 The gory, horrifying opening gives the audience an insight into
the films main theme of blood and gore.
 It is cleverly made and uniquely directed by Fede Alvarez who
is known for his association with horror. He sets the tone of the
film as the horror/thriller that it is, shown in the sprays of blood
and the crescendo of dramatic music.
 The camera follows a dripping trail of blood from the staircase
(much like Sweeney Todd), down to the basement where the
massacre begins, in one very long framed shot.

3. Genre

The introduction of the running blood and dark lighting
immediately enforces the horror genre, due to the connotations
of murder. This is one of the main themes in the film and the
audience is made aware of this, achieving the aims of an
opening sequence.
The use of the decaying staircase also enforces the horror
genre, again because of the connotations of death.
The title of the film also highlights the horror genre as it is red
connoting blood and has black veins running through the letters.
Because of these gory horror elements, it is likely to be aimed at
a target audience of young adults.
The editing uses jump cuts and sudden movement which shocks
the audience, putting them on edge, and enforcing the thriller
genre.

4. Institutions

 The institutions that were involved in ‘The Evil Dead’
are companies that have produced lost of horror
films.
 It is produced by Bruce Campbell and presented by

5. Mise en Scene

 The key mise en scene in this opening sequence is the amount of
blood that is shown on screen. This highlights the gore and severity of
the horror elements of the film, and prepares the audience for the
content.
 There are also mise en scene such as the chain saw and the nails,
which are shown cutting into human flesh, again making the audience
feel uncomfortable because of the gore.
 Due to the mise en scene and the full on climax of gore, it is clear that
the film would be aimed at an audience of adults, who like very extreme
violence and horror.

6. Themes and Typography

• The title designer explores the theme of
blood and the horror genre in his
typography through the red writing that I
covered in veins.
• Credit names are highlighted in bold red
writing to make their names stand out to
the audience and highlight their
significance.
• The bold typography is very similar to the
opening sequence as it has a big impact on
an audience because of t’s big brash nature.
• The colours chosen in the opening sequence
are dark and dimly lit, creating the mood
and atmosphere fit for a thriller/horror. This
is contrasted with the bright red blood,
again making it stand out and making it the
key focus for the opening sequence.

7. Music by Roque Banos

 Immediately the title appears central on screen as high
pitched notes repeat each other. This sudden introduction
immediately stars the excitement in the audience and
suggests the film is going to be full of action from the very
beginning.
 After this the music stops and the screen goes black.
Then a crescendo suddenly begins as quite strings and a
high pitched choir begin. This creates a very sinister feel
for the audience and immediately connotes a horror gene.
 This continues to build until the volume is very loud and
lots of instruments are playing to show the massacre that
is taking place, building the tension and adding even
more horror to the event.

8. Editing

 At the beginning of the sequence there are lots of continuous
shots as the camera follows the trail of blood down the stairs. As
the sequence progresses, these shots begin to get smaller and
more fast paced. This is representative of the mood throughout the
film, and the building horror that it contains.
 All of these elements being on screen constantly makes the
audience feel on edge and in suspense as though they cannot get
away from the connotations of death. This fits with the horror
genre well and adds excitement for the audience.
 The screen appears to have a slight shake throughout the whole
sequence which then diminishes with the fire at the end. This
shows the constant battle in the film and the resolution at the end
through the destruction of the demons.
 As the pace of the music quickens, so does the speed of the
frames, and there are more jump cuts. This creates suspense and
tension for the audience, creating the horror/thriller genre.

9. Camera Work

 There are many close-ups used in the opening
sequence, which highlight the mise en scene
such as blood.
 Close-ups are effective at adding tension and
adding to the horror genre, as the audience is
limited to what they are seeing, making them
cautious.
 There is a tilt used in the beginning of the
sequence to show the blood flowing down the
rotting staircase.
 There are tracking shots used to show the blood
which gives the audience the impression that
the blood is in control, because there is so much
blood and because it is everywhere, this gives
the impression that the film is a massacre of
horror and unpredictable nature.

10. Credits

 The titles do not move or fly onto the screen they
appear boldly on screen. The names of actors do not
appear until later on on the sequence, suggesting they
are less significant. This makes the audience believe
that the lives of the people in the film are not valued,
and with all of the blood it is clear they are in danger.
 I believe watching and analysing this opening sequence
has helped me understand what I need to include in
mine because I now have a better knowledge of what
credits to include to make mine more authentic and
believable.

11. My Final Piece

 This title sequence is effective at using a range of mise en
scene that connotes the horror genre, similar to what I plan to
use in my final piece.
 There is not a range of camera shots and movement in this
sequence, so I will aim to use a wider variety in my own
sequence.
 The use of building suspense by not introducing characters until
later on in the sequence is effective, and I will use something
similar in my own.
 The soundtrack used in this sequence is also effective at
creating tension and adding suspense, due to the crescendo. To
achieve the thriller genre in my own sequence I will build the
instruments to form a crescendo similarly to this.