This document analyzes the first 9 shots of the opening credits of the film "Insidious" focusing on how they set up atmosphere and mystery. Shot 1 establishes a black and white color scheme and ominous red text. Shots 2-4 continue the black and white theme and use of light and darkness to make the images unclear. Shots 5-7 start to give more context, revealing the setting is a house with something potentially outside that is frightening. Shots 8-9 add further mystery through unclear objects and an empty chair, leaving the viewer wondering what will happen. The analysis concludes the opening effectively conveys genre conventions of horror through its unsettling visuals and building of mystery.

1. Nine Frame Analysis
of the film: Insidious
By Jamie Tilsley

3. Shot 1
 This first shot in the opening credits has a basic black and
white colour scheme for the scene. The writing is in red as
a resemblance for blood which is a horror genre
convention. The use of a tonal background gives the shot a
sense of absence and makes the audience uneasy as the
lack of colour gives the image an eerie sense.

4. Shot 2
This shot also uses the absence of colours using
black and white, creating a theme of sorts for the
opening credits. The high angle shot of the
hallway shows the emptiness of the house. The
editing of the writing makes the writing blurry
and spooky, linking to the horror genre.

5. Shot 3
 This shot makes use of light and dark. The light
shining through the doorway as an element to
the shot to make it look fuzzy and less clear. The
darkness in the corner makes the shot feel more
mysterious.

6. Shot 4
 Shot 4: The use of the light shining is also used in this
shot. This time, less is seen as more is black and the only
clear thing we see for the mise en scene is a doorway. This
adds more mystery and doesn’t add anything to the
previous shots which keeps the viewer wondering if more
information will be given in the opening

7. Shot 5
 Shot 5 includes more detail of a bed. Keeping
with the theme of darkness, the bed is central
and adding attention. At this point we begin to
realise that the opening scene is touring us
around a house, which is probably going to be
the setting of the film.

8. Shot 6
 This shot aims at the curtains and out the
window, drawing our attention outside giving us
a hint that something may be outside which
frightens the audience.

9. Shot 7
 Shot 7 draws our attention to the silhouette. The
blurriness makes the outline of the figure. We
are also at a lower angle of the camera looking
at the figure, making us seem helpless and the
silhouette seem more powerful.

10. Shot 8
 Shot 8 shows a shot of a table with
various objects placed on top of it. The
fact that the objects aren't clear. Adds
even more mystery to an already
mysterious opening.

11. Shot 9
 The final 9th shot shows a bland table with the
majority of the shot being black. The empty chair
portrays a sense of emptiness.

12. Reflection
 From evaluating these nine frames in the
opening of Insidious I have learned what
a horror films opening credits should look
like, informing me about genre
conventions and effective shots for the
opening of a horror film. This will help me
to plan out and know what to do to make
my horror film opening effective.