Opening Sequences - Horror Films

While we are filming for our opening sequence, I have completed more research into other opening sequences in the horror genre to help develop my understanding of typical conventions of a horror film.

The first sequence I looked at was 'The Conjuring', what I found was:

• Voice Over- at the beginning, this is effective as it gives the reader ncssary information to understand what is going on in the scene, in this case it helps to involve the audience into the event and allow them to feel involved within the meeting. This sense of involvement helps to capture the audiences attention and heighten the creepy goings on with the doll.
• The close up of the eye suggests that the audience are also being watched by Annabelle and shows that there is a constant ghostly presence.
• The soundtrack is fast and sharp which helps to create tension, music being a fast pace gives the sense that something is coming or getting closer, which helps to introduce fear to the audience.

The second sequence I looked at was 'Sinister', what i ofund was:

• The long shot of the tree and the four people and the slow movement of them being pulled up the tree empathises their death and their cruel death, it also suggests that something isnt quite right as they're being hanged, it gives a sense of suffering which therefore makes the sequence more dramatic.
• There is eerie and slow paced, quiet music presents a more relaxed theme which contasts with the actions happening on screen. The quiet music implies that they are alone but as they are being raised it gives the impression that something is there with them, making it seem more creepy and eerie.

The final sequence I looked at was 'The Woman in Black', what I found was:

• Close ups of the girls faces and their toys give the impression that something is in the room with them, watching them.
• The use of childlike, innocent music gives a sweet and normal sense but does imply a eerie atmosphere, as the girls walk towards the window it gets faster and more intense, making the girls actions even more impactful.
• Props- the dolls, teapot and cups in the girls room shows them as being normal girls, which makes the audience question their intentions for their actions.
• The slow cutting rate as the girls walk up to window, could imply their reluctance to go to the window, suggesting that something is pulling them or forcing them do go there.
• finally, the over the shoulder and the establishing shot where the audience can see the whole room, a shadow is in the bottom right hand corner, showing that something isnt right and something was actually in the room with them, creating tension for the audience and asking questions as to what actually happened. The use of shadows is effective as the audiences imagination will take over and due to the unknown they will fill in what they think is the being, making the sequence seem more scary.