Analyse Film Opening

Scream

The scene is set at night and in a house in what looks to be the middle of nowhere. This is a typical convention of a horror film. It creates the sense that the victim is isolated away from everyone else making her seem alot more vulnerable. 

The main victim is a young blonde girl. This is commonly used in horror films as young girls are seen to be more vulnerable and helpless than boys. Also blondes are seen to be a bit dipsy making her appear even more vulnerable, because of this we expect trouble for her to unfold throughout the film.

A tracking shot is used to show the girl moving around the house, somtimes being high angle. This creates the affect that we are following her, listening over her shoulder to her conversation.  Making the audience feel more involved as they can relate more to the girl. The high angle shot gives the effect that the girl is smaller than she is and also makes it as if we are looking down on her, this continues to make the girl seem vulnerable.

Close ups are used showing the fire of the cooker and a knife, these are both typical mise en scene for horror films as they are both linked to death.  Also when the knife is pulled out the sound is exagerated, making it seem alot more harsh and sharpe. This also suggests that it could be a significant prop, which further suggests death.

Analyse Film Opening

The Grudge

The film opens with the Columbia Pictures logo, this straight away establishes it with its distributors. This immediately gives you an insight of what the film could be like by relating it to any other, possibly horror, Columbia Picture films that you have seen.

Over this and throughout the first minute, non-diegetic eerie ghost like music is played quietly. This creates an uneasy feeling for the audience. The fact that it is quiet leaves you slightly on edge as you are expecting something to disturb it and possibly make you jump.

The opening shows a man committing suicide by jumping from a balcony; this makes it clear to the audience that this is a horror as within the first 3 minutes there is a death. There is then a mid-close up of the man led on the ground with blood around his head, suggesting that the film will become more graphic as it goes on.

A sped up point of view shot has been used as the man is falling, this creates the sense that you are the one that is falling to their death. This has been used to involve the audience putting them into the position of the character making them feel even more uneasy as it feels as if you are experiencing it yourself.