The opening scene of The Craft shows three witches performing a spell around a pentagram surrounded by candles, suggesting witchcraft themes. Lightning flashes, connoting danger in their spell. Throughout the opening credits, flashing witchcraft symbols further indicate the dark, evil nature of witchcraft in the film. The camera zooms in on one of the girls, implying she may be the leader or most important to the story. Quick cuts and chanting establish a tense, ominous tone as the witches cast their unknown spell.

1. The Craft
Film Opening Analysis by Sinead Grace

2. Mise-en-Scene
▪ In the opening scene of this film we see a lot of props that make it obvious that this
film has a theme of witchcraft. For example, at the 0:18 mark, we see a pentagram
surrounded by lots of lit candles. This suggests that they are performing a spell.
• At 0:28, we see a flash of lightning. This could
connote darkness and danger, suggesting that the
spell the witches are performing is not a good one.

3. Mise-en-Scene
▪ When the scene cuts from the girls to the credits sequence at 0:49, we see a lot of
flashing images. These images are mainly witchcraft symbols, which further show
that this film is based around witchcraft and make it seem quite dark as the
symbols have connotations of evil.
• At 2:23, we see a focus on rain on a car window. When
comparing this to the thunder and lightning when the
witches were casting their spell, we can assume that they
were creating a storm. We can also assume this from the
way that the clip focuses specifically on the rain.

4. Sound
▪ At 0:09, we can hear wind chimes which connote a feeling of peace and tranquillity.
This is then interrupted by a clap of thunder. This could imply that some kind of
peace is soon to be interrupted in the film.
• At 0:39, we can hear the three witches chanting. This
makes it very clear that they are casting a spell as
this is a typical convention of witchcraft. The words
do not make it clear what the spell is, which leaves
the viewer on edge and wanting to find out what it is.

5. Editing
▪ The cut between the first two shots is very smooth and slowly transitions from one to
the other. This makes the viewer feel at ease as it gives a sense of calmness. This is
the only time in the opening that the cuts are slow and so could possibly be used to
give a sense of false hope or to shock the viewer when the cuts speed up.
• In contrast, the cuts at 0:50 are extremely quick
and most last less than a second each. This
would put the viewer on edge and create a fast
paced feeling within the opening.

6. Camera
▪ When the camera first shows the three witches at 0:30, is starts from a long shot
but slowly zooms in until it is at a close up of one of the girls. This is so that we focus
entirely on the girls – the girl in the centre specifically as she is the most in view and
she is who we are focussing on in the end.
• At 0:47, angles have been used to connote power. In
this opening scene, the girl in the centre is the only
one we see fully and is the one the camera focuses on
in the end. This could imply that she is the leader of
the group and possibly more important to the story.