This title sequence for the horror film "The Grudge" effectively sets up the horror genre and themes through its visuals and use of color. Over the course of 9 still images, it introduces elements like a rusty door [Image 1] and skull [Image 2] that suggest the archaic setting and horror genre. Disfigured bodies [Image 3], blood, and a rising hand [Image 5] prepare the viewer for violence and death. Recurring images like strands of hair and the color red connect to the film's main ghost. Later clips build tension as a lone character is shown with only a lighter for light [Image 7]. Finally, the director is featured against a plain image that references the aftermath of

1. First Still Image – ‘Ghost House Pictures’ institutional transitionThe iconography of the keyhole shape in the door is a stereotypical icon in horror films. Looking through a keyhole gives way for a scene to make the audience jump and reinforces the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ feeling which is apparent in all horror movies.The word “Ghost” immediately suggests that this film is a horror film. The name of the institution suggests that they specialise in the horror genre. The writing is white, linking to ghosts and in a plain font which is typical of an institution title design so its clear to read and memorable.The brown rusty door suggests an archaic setting which again suggests that the movie is a horror movie and many horrors are set in old homes, castles etc. The brown rusty door also suggests that because its old, the door creeks, which is evident from the sound given as well which is a stereotypical sound used in horror films.The image of the skull is the most obvious link to horror as the iconogrpahy of it is closely linked to the genre of horror. The skull is an iconic symbol of horror, through pirates, ghosts, skeletons especially around Halloween.

2. Second Still Image – Narrative TitlesWithin this piece of narrative, we have the words ‘dies’ , ‘grip’ , ‘rage’ and ‘curse’ which all have connotations of horror. This piece of information is preparing the viewer and informing them on some background information/theory connected to the story.The word curse goes onto to change colour in the next few seconds of the title sequence. The colour red has connotations of horror due to its direct link to blood. The fact that the writing turns red suggests that blood and killings will be present in the film.The font is again very plain so that the attention is paid on what the narrative titles are actually saying. The font allows the information present to be more vivid and allows more attention to be paid to what the narrative titles could be suggesting.

3. Third Still Image – First DeathThe area around the man who just committed suicide is fairly desolate with only a couple of people in shallower focus further back. This is a stereotypical location used for horrors to separate the victim from reality and any chance of being helped/saved, almost trapping the character/victim.The first death in the film comes very early on, before any titles are shown other than the purely narrative ones. This delves the audience straight into the horror and gives them what they want to see almost immediately. Therefore ensuring they will stay interested in the film as they are hooked so early on.The characters body is very disfigured as he has just jumped from a balcony several storeys high. The disfigured body is an unusual/gory image for the audience and introduces death and pain automatically into the film. Blood is also introduced in this still image from the beginning titles of the film. Blood is a stereotypical image that everyone expects to see in a horror film. In The Grudge we are introduced to the image of blood immediately suggesting that a lot of blood will be present in the rest of the film.

4. Still Image 4 – Main Actress TitleThe font is in red again making reference and representing blood. The colour red is apparent through the whole of the title sequence and so in turn blood is therefore also apparent throughout the whole title sequence, preparing the audience for the bloodshed in the film.The main actress in the film ‘Sarah Michelle Gellar’ is introduced separately from the rest of the cast other than the director. This is because she will be the anchoring actress in the film, meaning she is the one people will recognise and could be the reason why some people go and see the film.Again the font is very simple but also very cinematic. The font looks like the font used on the outside of films to advertise the film or actor/actress. This font could have been used to distinguish the bigger actress in the film – Sarah Michelle Gellar.Although its hard to see on here, when watching the actual titles, we can see that black strands move across the title. These black strands are representing ‘The Grudge’s’ hair as this is a symbol we see throughout the film when she is going to attack.

5. Still Image 5 – Japanese Symbols/Rising HandThe Japanese symbols on this title screen are a direct connection to the background of this title. The film has characters within it including the female character you see in the beginning titles of the film with Japanese origins and the film was originally from Japanese roots.The colour red is again very vivid in this title clip even more so than any of the others previous. The red this time looks like a pool of blood from which a hand is arising.The most obvious element of horror on this title clip is the rising hand. The had looks as if it is going to reach out and grab you. This is typical of horror films attempting to include the audience in the horror as much as possible.The strands of hair are apparent even more vivid in this title clip. The strands of hair are more obvious this time and suggests that the grudge is about to appear on the screen. The strands of hair are a reminder of the horror of the main character.

6. Still Image 6 – Narrative TitleThe background of the title has now started to introduce some form of narrative. We can now see the location in which the film is set which presumably is Japan. The shot is full of signs with Japanese symbols on which links to the characters given beforehand.The character who is facing away from the screen is to be the second victim of ‘The Grudge’. Although we are only 3:55 minutes into the film we have already encountered two deaths. The fact that the deaths are being introduced so early into the film allows the viewer to become more immersed in the film.Yet again the most prominent colour in the whole title clip is red. The actual title and the symbols on the left hand sign, the scarf, bicycle and building are all red. The red consumes the image just like the image of blood consumes the film.The title is in the bottom right hand corner. Following the right hand billing guidelines, the fact that the title is in the bottom corner means that it is the last thing that the audience sees before the scene changes. This means that therefore the name is more memorable due to it being the last thing seen.

7. Still Image 7 – First tension clip within title sequence The only light source in this clip is from the lighter. The lighter only allows a little light to be provided in the clip, keeping the rest of it darkened. This intensifies the scene and the audience cant see what will happen next or what might be hiding.The fact that there is only one character in this scene suggests that she is fighting this alone. No one is there to help her if she got into something and so the chances of her being trapped/murdered are heightened.The rest of the image is dark and so ‘The Fear of the Unknown’ is still present through the clip. The audience cant physically see what is going to happen next and so tension and suspicion is built up through the clip even though we are still within the title sequence.The hand is again a main image in this clip as it was in still image five. However this time the hand is at risk of being grabbed and not the grabber. If something was to grab the hand then the victim would be trapped and unable to escape meaning another killing almost immediately with no one to help the victim.

8. Still Screen 8 – Facing Threat in title sequenceThe Grudge’s face is covered and therefore has some form of disguise, again enforcing fear of the unknown. Therefore blending in with the darkness in the background, making it harder for the victim to find ‘The Grudge’.This is the first clip were we come face to face with ‘The Grudge’. However this is quite early on as we are still in the title sequence. The victim has her face turning the other way to the camera. We cant see her facial expression as we are only faced with ‘The Grudge’. Again, the lighter is the only light source, maintaining the dark and ‘fear of the unknown’ type of atmosphere. The light source is minute and so the darkness is more prominent.

9. Still Screen 9 – Directed ByThe last clip in the title sequence ends on who the film is directed by. In this case ‘Takashi Shimzu’. The image behind the director is fairly plain and so most emphasis is placed on the director is. The cupboard behind acts as a still image behind the director as the aftermath of the death.